Gemotions

The last text message from Chloe lay open on his phone. A simple "See ya!" It felt curt, dismissive. He re-read it repeatedly, searching for a hidden meaning, a hidden forgiveness he knew wasn’t there.

He'd been so preoccupied with his own drama that he’d forgotten to celebrate her. He hadn't thrown her a proper going-away party, hadn't even offered a decent goodbye.

He’d known this was coming, of course. Yet, he still felt blindsided, as though he’d been hit by a truck. The apartment seemed eerily quiet now, the echoes of their shared laughter replaced by a suffocating stillness.