Gemotions

The flickering candlelight danced across Amelia's face, casting shifting shadows that mirrored the chaos bubbling inside her. Across the small bistro table, Liam was mid-sentence, recounting a hilarious anecdote about a misadventure with a particularly stubborn goat. Amelia found herself unable to focus on his words, instead captivated by the way the firelight caught the planes of his cheekbones, the slight crinkle at the corner of his eyes when he laughed. Her fingers tapped a nervous rhythm against the crisp white tablecloth. It was the way his hand, resting so casually on the table, seemed to radiate warmth. She wanted to reach out, to touch it, to feel that heat spread through her.

Then, a sudden chime shattered the intimate bubble. A text. It was a photo of them, of Amelia and Liam, together, but with a woman she’d never seen before, laughing. A woman who looked remarkably like… her. The blood seemed to drain from her face, leaving her chilled. Liam’s voice faded.

"You okay?" he asked, his brow furrowing with concern.

Amelia's response was a gasp, then a shaky, "I... I have to go." She stood abruptly, nearly knocking over her chair, a dizzying wave washing over her.