Gemotions

The sunlight was too bright, bouncing off the polished surface of the table. Maya traced a pattern in the condensation on her iced tea, her gaze fixed downwards. David claimed they'd seen a hawk, soaring high above the fields. She remembered an owl, perched silently on a branch, its eyes like burning coals.

"It was definitely a hawk, Maya. You just weren't paying attention." His easy confidence grated on her. She bristled.

She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, then opened them again, her jaw clenched. She knew what she saw, what she remembered. It was not a matter for debate. She refused to yield.