Gemotions

Dust motes danced in the lone sunbeam slicing through Liam's apartment. He traced a finger along the grooves of the worn coffee table, a meaningless activity that occupied an eternity. The silence, normally a comfort, felt heavy, suffocating. He should probably eat something. The fridge was practically empty. But the thought of getting up, of moving, felt like scaling a mountain.

He found himself scrolling endlessly through his phone, stopping on a photo from their childhood. He and Maya, grinning, covered in mud. A wave of something akin to sadness washed over him. He was a teenager now, but it still felt like yesterday that he and Maya made a pact to always stay friends.

Liam went to the cafe where they used to hang out. Maya was there. He knew she would be. She was talking to some guy. When she saw him, her face lit up, a genuinely welcoming smile. "Liam! Hey! How've you been?"

He felt the smile on his face falter. He stood there, frozen. It was a good smile. He just did not recognize the smile. The memory of their pact felt like a faded dream.