Gemotions

The cafe air, thick with the aroma of coffee, suddenly felt lighter, easier to breathe. He watched her across the small, round table, her brow furrowed in concentration as she scanned the menu. This was it. The moment of truth. She’d been vague about the meetup, a mutual friend’s casual suggestion, but he knew the truth. This was *her* city, a place she hadn’t visited since…well, since they were children.

She looked up, hazel eyes meeting his. “So,” she said, a polite smile gracing her lips, “It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Sarah said you were a writer?” He nodded, a small, involuntary twitch in his jaw. “That’s wonderful! What do you write?” He couldn’t quite keep the tremor from his voice. “Mostly… fiction. Sometimes… personal stuff.”

He took a slow sip of water, the ice clinking softly against the glass. The tension that had been coiled tight inside him, ever since he'd received the email, began to unwind. He found himself smiling back, genuine this time.