Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windowpane, mirroring the storm brewing inside Maya. She'd always hated the rain. The way it made everything feel heavy and gray. Now, looking at the packing boxes scattered across Liam’s apartment, she wanted to scream at the sky, at the cruel unfairness of the universe.

He was beaming, showing her a picture of his new apartment. Bright and spacious, it was a world away from the cramped, cluttered space they shared. She felt a prickling behind her eyelids, a familiar ache.

"It'll be an adventure!" Liam announced, clapping his hands together. Maya could only manage a tight, "Yeah."

She stared at a framed photo of them from last summer, laughing on the beach. It felt like a lifetime ago. A lump formed in her throat, making it difficult to breathe. The air in the room felt thin, as if someone had stolen all the oxygen.