Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of the coffee shop, mirroring the frantic drumming in Maya's chest. She’d always considered Liam her rock, her confidante, until he'd casually dismissed her memory of the incident at the lake. "You're mistaken," he'd said, a casual shrug accompanying the words. Now, everything felt precarious.

She fidgeted with the straw in her iced latte, snapping it in half. The sound grated on her nerves. She kept catching her own reflection in the window, her eyes wide, searching for something, anything, to confirm her sanity. The scent of coffee, usually a comfort, felt cloying.

"Are you alright?" the barista asked, his voice laced with concern. Maya blinked, forcing a smile she didn't feel. "Fine," she managed, her voice barely a whisper. She needed to get out of there, away from the judging eyes of strangers. The air felt too tight, like a too-small room.