Gemotions

The familiar scent of woodsmoke and pine needles filled Leo’s nostrils as he stood at the edge of the clearing. This was their spot, where they’d built forts and shared secrets as children. The silence of the forest seemed to amplify the internal thudding in his chest.

He'd found her working in the little roadside diner, the same diner she'd always dreamed of owning. He approached her, heart racing, and spoke her name. She had looked at him, puzzled, before stating with no inflection, "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

His shoulders slumped as the harsh reality crashed down on him. All the memories, the shared laughter, the whispered promises under the starry sky, seemingly forgotten. He was insignificant.