Gemotions

The coffee cup jumped in Maya’s hand, sloshing lukewarm liquid over the rim. She hadn't expected to see Liam here, at the farmers market, a place they’d practically lived in as kids. He looked… different. Taller, for sure, with a scruff of beard she didn't recall. He was laughing with a woman, and the sound, buoyant and casual, sliced through her chest. It was a laugh she remembered, but the rest of him was a stranger.

She approached, her steps heavy. "Liam?" The word felt awkward, clumsy.

He glanced up, his eyes meeting hers, and a polite smile curved his lips. "Yes?"

Her stomach twisted. "It's… Maya. Maya Rodriguez?"

His smile faltered, replaced by a blankness that slammed into her. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I know you.”

A wave of heat flushed her cheeks. She mumbled something about a mistake, backed away, and promptly spilled the rest of her coffee.