Gemotions

He’d known, of course. David had *known* Sarah would be here. The shared coffee shop, the shared job application – it should have been obvious. Yet, seeing her across the room, radiating competence, sent a wave of heat washing over him. He was a complete mess.

His palms were slick. He fumbled with his phone, pretending to answer a call to avoid eye contact. The clatter of the espresso machine felt deafening. He considered just turning around and leaving, but that would be even worse.

“David? Oh, hey!” Sarah’s voice, bright and breezy, cut through his internal turmoil. Her smile seemed…sympathetic? He stammered a greeting, his words catching in his throat, and looked away. The coffee suddenly tasted like ash.