Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee did nothing to soothe the turmoil swirling within Ethan. He traced patterns on the condensation ring of his mug, avoiding eye contact with the woman sitting across from him. The cafe buzzed with cheerful chatter, a jarring counterpoint to the hollow ache in his chest. He replayed the events leading up to this meeting, again and again, each time feeling the sting of his actions.

"Ethan?" The sound of her voice made him jump. The woman, Sarah, had a gentle face but her eyes were weary. He offered a weak smile, a poor attempt at easing the tension.

"The doctor said..." Sarah began, her voice trailing off. He knew what she was going to say. The rare medical condition, the shared destiny, the consequence of his choices. He hadn't wanted this life for her.

He hung his head, unable to speak, the shame a palpable presence. He had failed her. A profound, unyielding guilt ate at him. The coffee suddenly tasted bitter.