Gemotions

The ticking clock on the wall seemed to mock Leo's inertia. Each tick echoed in the quiet apartment, a constant reminder of the passing hours, the things he *should* be doing. He should be working, or exercising, or calling his family. Instead, he sat at the kitchen table, pushing cereal around in a bowl.

He came across a childhood photo of himself and his best friend, Noah, on the kitchen counter. They had been inseparable, building forts in the woods, sharing dreams of the future. The photo was a punch to the gut. It felt like all the joy had been drained from the image.

Leo eventually worked up the courage to contact Noah. They agreed to meet.

Noah greeted him with a polite smile, but the warmth wasn't there. He didn't seem to recognize the jokes, the shared references. Their entire shared past was somehow gone.