Gemotions

The pizza felt like ash in Leo's mouth. He poked at a limp pepperoni with a fork, the silence in the usually boisterous Italian restaurant a physical weight. Across the checkered tablecloth, Maya's face was animated as she described the job offer, the exciting opportunities, the life she would build. He kept nodding, trying to look engaged, but a hollow ache was settling in his chest, making it difficult to breathe. He wished he could just disappear, become invisible, escape the reality that was unfolding.

He found himself staring out the window, watching the city lights blur through a film of unshed tears. The bustling street below, once a source of comfort, now seemed tauntingly vibrant, a world he wouldn’t share with her anymore. He excused himself and went to the bathroom, splashing cold water on his face to try and clear the obstruction in his throat.

Later, as they walked back to his car, he found his hand reaching for hers, a futile grasp at the familiarity they always shared. But Maya was already busy pulling up her moving plans on her phone, and his hand fell back to his side.