Gemotions

The Ferris wheel, its skeletal frame silhouetted against the inky sky, creaked rhythmically. Liam stood at the base of it, the cool night air biting at his cheeks. He stared up at it, remembering the countless times he and Maya had ridden it, screaming with laughter as they reached the peak.

He'd seen her at the art gallery today. He'd approached her cautiously, heart thumping in his chest. “Maya? It’s me, Liam.” She had studied him for a moment, her brow furrowed, before shaking her head. “I don’t think so. Sorry.” Her words still echoed in his ears, a flat, final note.

He’d bought a ticket and boarded the wheel. As he ascended, the lights of the city spread out before him, a glittering tapestry of lives, none of which included the shared past he’d cherished. A deep hollowness resonated inside him. He leaned against the railing, the wind whipping his hair around his face, and silently watched as the ground slowly spun beneath his feet.