Gemotions

The museum was hushed, the exhibits bathed in soft light. Sarah wandered through the halls, admiring the ancient artifacts. She’d always loved history, and she'd shared that passion with Ben as a child. They'd spent countless hours pretending to be explorers, dreaming of discovering hidden treasures. Now, Ben stared at her, as if she were a stranger.

She’d seen him earlier, near the Egyptian exhibit. She tried to approach, to say hello, but the words caught in her throat. He'd looked at her with polite confusion, then turned back to his companion, a woman with a perfectly coiffed hairstyle.

The museum felt vast and cold, despite the warmth radiating from the displays. The stories of the past, normally a source of comfort, now seemed to mock her. She felt a profound sense of isolation, a deep ache. She walked from exhibit to exhibit, searching for something, anything to hold onto. But she found only echoes.