Gemotions

The coffee cup trembled in Leo’s hand, the dark liquid threatening to spill over the rim. He stared at the name etched onto the paper cup: “Sarah.” He knew the same Sarah online, a girl with a wickedly dry wit who had been his confidante for months. They’d shared everything, their anxieties, their dreams, their deepest secrets. He'd always assumed she was across the country, maybe even on another continent. Now, here she was, the barista at his usual cafe.

He felt a strange lightness in his chest, a sort of floating feeling. He couldn't quite believe it. His palms were clammy. He wanted to shout, to run, to rewind time, but all he could do was stand frozen.

He stammered a thank you and fled the cafe, leaving his untouched latte on the counter. He needed to get away, to process. The world felt tilted, unbalanced.