Gemotions

Liam stared at Sarah across the table, the half-eaten plate of pasta growing cold between them. Sarah had just announced she was leaving, that she had gotten an internship in California. The details were a blur, a jumble of logistics and excitement. He felt a disconnect, as if he were watching a movie that wasn't playing on the same screen as the one in his own head.

He picked at the remaining noodles, pushing them around the plate. The noise of the restaurant, usually a familiar background hum, grated on his ears. His palms felt clammy. A knot formed in his stomach. He wasn’t sure if he should feel happy for her or devastated.

“So… California?” he managed to ask, his voice sounding distant, like he was speaking from a great distance. He met her gaze, searching for a clue, a hidden meaning he might have missed. The cheerful ambiance of the restaurant now felt like a cruel joke.