Gemotions

The bustling marketplace swirled around Clara. She leaned against a fruit stall, watching Daniel examine a bunch of grapes. He squinted at them, deliberating. She remembered how they used to steal grapes from this very stall, giggling as they ran away, sticky fingers and sweet juice staining their mouths. She’d been ready to be mischievous with him again today.

The memories, sharp and vibrant, clashed with the present. She’d tried to jog his memory, mentioning their secret hideout, the silly nicknames they’d used, but his eyes had remained vacant, his answers polite and generic.

Clara watched him pay for the grapes, the transaction completed with a complete stranger. She watched him walk away.