Gemotions

The embossed invitation felt almost indecently smooth against Maya’s fingertips. It was the tenth-year reunion, a decade since she’d walked those hallowed halls, and suddenly, the past, the good, the bad, and the embarrassing, felt vibrantly, almost painfully present. A blush crept up her neck as she reread the name: *David Chen*. She'd always found his shy smile…captivating.

She spent the next hour scrolling through his social media, replaying old memories in her head. A light giggle escaped her when she saw a photo of him, older, more defined, holding a baby. The idea of him with a family…it both thrilled and unsettled her.

That night, she couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned, replaying every interaction they'd ever had. The way he’d helped her with that physics problem, the hesitant way he'd bumped into her in the cafeteria. A knot of excitement, so intense, twisted in her stomach.