Gemotions

Maya’s jaw dropped. The figure standing at the bus stop, fiddling with their phone, was Alex. Alex, from the gaming forum, the guy she’d spent hours strategizing with, the person who made her feel less alone. He'd always claimed to be "somewhere in the Midwest."

A wave of heat washed over her, and she felt rooted to the spot. Her carefully crafted online persona felt exposed, vulnerable. She’d spent so long pretending to be confident and cool, and now, here he was, in her very mundane reality.

She took a step backwards, almost tripping over her backpack. He glanced up, their eyes met, and he gave a small, hesitant wave.