Gemotions

The cafe buzzed with Friday night chatter, but Elias only heard the blood roaring in his ears. Across the small, wobbly table, Liam, his Liam, laughed at something the woman beside him had said. That laugh. It had haunted Elias's dreams for years, but now... now Liam looked at him with polite confusion. "I'm sorry," Liam said, after Elias had stuttered out his name and a rambling anecdote about tree climbing and scraped knees, "I don't think I remember a… Elias?" His brow furrowed, a gesture Elias remembered, a gesture he’d thought was reserved only for him.

Elias’s fingers, suddenly clumsy, fumbled with his coffee cup. He wanted to reach across the table, to grab Liam’s hand, to make him understand. He wanted to rewind time and have that look of recognition flash across Liam’s face. He wanted to scream.

He managed a weak smile. "No worries. It was a long time ago." He felt a flush creep up his neck. He felt like a fool.