Gemotions

The late afternoon sun painted long shadows across the park as Amelia swung on the bench. The gentle rocking motion, coupled with the warmth soaking into her skin, was utterly comforting. She’d been rereading her favorite poetry collection, the words flowing over her like a warm bath. A butterfly, a flash of orange and black, flitted past, and she tracked its erratic dance with a smile. The air tasted clean and sweet, carrying the faint scent of freshly cut grass. Then, a text notification. It was from Liam. He needed to talk.

“Hey,” Liam began, his voice barely audible over the phone. Amelia paused her swinging, a slight tightening in her chest. She could sense something was off. “I have some news.”

He explained, his words tumbling out. A job offer. Across the country. Amelia listened, her breath steady, her hands still. She didn’t interrupt, even though her mind was racing. When he finished, she simply said, “Wow, Liam. That's…big.”

She watched the sun dip further, the colors deepening. “I’m happy for you,” she said softly, meaning it. “Truly. This is… a wonderful opportunity.” A quietness settled between them, broken only by the chirping of crickets.