Gemotions

He fidgeted with the napkin, his gaze fixed on Liam as he spoke. The memory of their trip to the mountains was all he could think of, it seemed. Liam was telling the story of their hike up the trail, a tale of struggle and exhaustion.

"It was brutal," Liam said, shaking his head. He nodded, his heart aching. He didn’t remember the difficulty. He remembered the way Liam’s face lit up when he reached the summit, the way he watched the sunset.

He remembered the stolen moments of laughter, the unspoken camaraderie, the feeling of belonging that washed over him. He was desperate to hear the echoes of the same memories, but instead, it felt so hollow. He wondered if Liam felt it, too. He wanted to lean closer, to touch him.