Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of the coffee shop, blurring the already indistinct streetlights. Amelia watched Liam across the small, round table. His brow was furrowed as he recounted some mundane story about a work project. She remembered a time when his forehead crinkled with concentration, but it was over building a magnificent Lego castle, not spreadsheets. A pang shot through her chest, a dull ache that seemed to emanate from her very core. She reached for her lukewarm coffee, her fingers tracing the rim of the mug.

"And then, get this," Liam was saying, a smile finally gracing his lips, "the whole thing just… crashed. Hours of work, gone!" Amelia swallowed the lump in her throat. She wanted to tell him about the time their treehouse collapsed, about the shared tears and the unwavering resolve to rebuild it, stronger than before. But she remained silent, the memory a heavy weight she didn't dare share.

She took a long sip of her coffee and when she looked back up, his eyes were still on her, full of an interest that felt painfully detached. "You okay, Amelia? You seem miles away."