Gemotions

The takeout container nearly slipped from Amelia's grasp as she tried to balance it, suddenly aware that her hands were slick with sweat. Across the small, cluttered kitchen table, Liam was talking, gesturing wildly with a half-eaten spring roll. He was explaining something about mountains and a "fresh start" in Colorado. Amelia just stared, feeling a strange pressure building behind her eyes.

"So, yeah," Liam finished, beaming. "Pretty awesome, right?"

The words caught in Amelia's throat. She managed a weak, "Wow. That's... that's a long way." The room seemed to shrink, the walls closing in. The smell of the noodles, once comforting, now felt suffocating. She couldn't meet his gaze, instead focusing on the chipped paint on the table.