The news hit Amelia like a physical blow. Sarah, her Sarah, was moving to California. A lump formed in her throat, making it difficult to swallow as Sarah described the new apartment, the ocean views, the job offer she couldn't refuse. Amelia reached across the table and squeezed Sarah's hand, her fingers interlacing tightly. She wanted to say something, anything, to make the sting in her chest lessen, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she just held on, her thumb tracing lazy circles on the back of Sarah’s hand.
A warmth blossomed in her chest watching Sarah’s face light up as she talked about her future. The thought of Sarah being happy and excited, even if it was without her, brought a gentle ache to Amelia's heart. She finally managed to force a smile, a shaky one, but a smile nonetheless. "That's… amazing," she said, her voice thick. "I'm so thrilled for you."
She spent the rest of the evening listening, asking questions, and subtly rearranging the takeout containers to get closer to Sarah. Every time their hands brushed, a jolt of pleasure shot through her. She felt like she wanted to absorb every detail, every inflection of Sarah's voice, to somehow store them away as precious memories.