Gemotions

The coffee shop was unusually quiet, the low hum of conversation a gentle backdrop to the news Maya was hearing. Her best friend, Chloe, was going to live in New York. A thrill of excitement ran through her; she was so happy for Chloe.

Maya's fingers itched to reach across the table. Instead, she smiled, a genuine, wide smile. The corners of her eyes crinkled. “That’s… incredible, Chloe! Wow!” She leaned forward, the slight tremor in her hands betraying the intensity of her feeling. “When do you leave? What are you most excited about?”

She listened intently, hanging on Chloe's every word, her focus entirely on her friend. She reached out and touched Chloe's arm, a fleeting, reassuring gesture. She felt a surge of warmth wash over her, a deep and unyielding swell of affection for this person, this soul, that she’d known for so long.

Later, after Chloe left, Maya sat alone, the lingering scent of Chloe's perfume a faint reminder of her presence. She felt a bittersweet ache, a yearning that was strangely comforting.