Gemotions

The cobblestone streets of their old neighborhood felt different. He could feel the familiar weight in his pocket; a small, worn stone he and Caleb had found in the creek. He could almost feel his presence, the ghost of a shared past. He spotted Caleb, and a surge of something raced through him.

He approached him, a smile on his face. "Caleb? It's me, Alex. We used to..."

Caleb looked at him, his face blank. "I don’t know you, buddy.” He gave Alex a puzzled look.

The world seemed to lose its color. The familiar streets suddenly felt alien. The stone felt cold in his hand. He gripped it tightly, his knuckles white, and turned away, the silence of the neighborhood deafening.