Gemotions

He had seen her profile, the familiar name, and the picture that was so different, but somehow… her. He found her, finally. Mark walked into the library, his steps echoing slightly in the silence. He saw her at a table by the window, engrossed in a book.

“Anna?” he asked, his voice unexpectedly rough.

She looked up, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. He could almost see the ghosts of their childhood in her eyes. It took her only seconds to recognize him. "Oh, hello."

He smiled, anticipating the warmth, the shared laughter. “It’s Mark. Mark Evans. Remember… the roller rink? And… the time we…”

She blinked, and he saw a flicker of… puzzlement in her eyes. Her brow furrowed. "I don't. Sorry."

Mark felt a strange hollowness settle in his chest. A sudden chill, despite the warm sunlight streaming through the window. He felt a need to explain, but the words caught in his throat. He saw her start to return to her book. Slowly, almost mechanically, he turned and walked toward the exit, his footsteps unusually loud in the quiet of the library.