Gemotions

A wave of emptiness washed over me as I heard the news. My stomach twisted, and I felt a chill run down my spine, despite the warmth of the summer evening. Sarah’s words, a joyful cascade of new beginnings, bounced off me like pebbles against stone. I struggled to force a smile, a grimace really, as I tried to process the reality of her leaving.

The ice cream I held in my hand began to melt, dripping down my fingers, a messy symbol of the joy that had suddenly deflated. I wanted to scream, to lash out, to stop time. Instead, I just nodded, muttering platitudes of support. The air suddenly felt heavy, thick with the unspoken fear of what life would be without her.

I walked her to the bus stop, the silence between us amplifying the thunder in my ears. As the bus pulled away, carrying her towards a future that didn't include me, I stood frozen, my limbs leaden, and watched her disappear from sight, the loss echoing in the vast expanse of the now empty street.