Gemotions

"You were… a kid I played with?" Mark asked, his voice laced with a polite skepticism that felt like a slap. Sarah had spotted him at a work conference, and excitedly approached him, her heart already racing. The years had been kind to him; he was handsome and successful. She was... well, she was still Sarah.

She had prepared a story about their shared adventures, the treehouse they’d built, the secret code they'd used. Now, the words felt like lead weights in her throat. She swallowed hard, struggling to maintain eye contact. His expression remained neutral, his gaze searching.

She felt a hot flush creep up her neck. Her carefully practiced introduction seemed foolish and juvenile. She wanted to dive under the table, to escape the judging eyes of the other attendees. She managed a weak laugh, a sound that felt brittle and forced, and mumbled something about it being a long time ago.