Gemotions

The empty swing set in the park mocked him. He used to push Emily on it. He should have asked her to swing one last time before she left, but he'd been too preoccupied. He sat on the damp bench, the cold seeping through his jeans.

He'd downplayed her excitement about the opportunity, focusing instead on his own anxieties about the change. Now, as the sunset painted the sky in fiery hues, he felt a crushing wave of regret.

He’d been so focused on maintaining the status quo that he hadn’t fully appreciated the joy, the laughter, the friendship that would soon be out of reach. He closed his eyes, replaying their final hug, the lingering warmth a painful contrast to the cold wind.