Gemotions

The diner was almost empty, the harsh fluorescent lights casting a sterile glow. Carol had chosen this place, the one they used to frequent after school, hoping for a nostalgic connection. But when she saw him, David, across the booth, it was like she was viewing him from across a vast and empty ocean.

"David! Hey, remember me? Carol?" she'd asked, her voice a little breathless. He’d looked up, his expression neutral. He’d blinked slowly. "I’m afraid not," he'd said, politely. The waiter poured her a cup of coffee and she found she had no desire to drink it.

The familiar chrome and vinyl seemed foreign. The scent of frying bacon was suddenly unpleasant. She watched David eat his burger, the ease with which he seemed to navigate this world, a world she once shared, now a painful reminder of her own solitude.