Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, a soundtrack to Leo's indecision. He stared at the two emails, both announcing parties for his birthday. One, hosted by Finn, promised a boisterous pub crawl. The other, from Chloe, described a quiet, intimate gathering at her art studio. He tapped his fingers on the table, the rhythmic tapping a counterpoint to the drumming of the rain.

He found himself wandering through the apartment, stopping in front of the bookshelf. His gaze fell upon a faded photograph, three young faces beaming at the camera. He, Finn, and Chloe, beaming on graduation day. He reached out, his fingertip tracing the outline of Chloe's smile.

He hadn't been back to her art studio in years. The scent of linseed oil, the gentle clinking of wine glasses, the quiet, focused energy – all these things had faded from his life. He felt a wave of… something… wash over him, making his throat constrict. He went to his closet and pulled out his favourite sweater, a navy blue one that had been a gift from Chloe.