Gemotions

The cafe air, usually smelling of roasted beans and sweet pastries, felt stale. Liam planted himself in the corner, arms crossed, legs ramrod straight beneath the small table. He'd waited half an hour, already. Finally, Sarah walked in, a burst of sunshine in a floral dress. He'd rehearsed his greeting a hundred times, but the words caught in his throat.

"Sarah? Over here!" Liam's voice sounded strained. She looked at him, blinked, and her brow furrowed.

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Her voice held a polite, yet confused, inflection. Liam felt a cold knot tighten in his gut.

He leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming a steady, infuriating rhythm on the tabletop. He wouldn’t be the one to back down, not after all this time and planning. "We spent summers together. Remember the treehouse? The scraped knees?" He knew he sounded accusing.

She shook her head slowly, a delicate frown creasing her forehead. “Look, I really don't recognize you. I’m meeting someone, maybe another time?” Liam pushed his chair back abruptly, the legs screeching against the tile. "Yeah, maybe," he muttered, avoiding eye contact as she walked away.