Gemotions

"So... you're really leaving?" Maya asked, her voice barely a whisper. They were sitting on the park bench, the same one where they'd shared countless secrets and dreams. The vibrant colours of the autumn leaves seemed muted, the rustling of the wind a hollow echo.

Across from her, Leo was smiling, but it didn't reach his eyes. His gaze kept drifting, darting away from hers, as if he couldn't bear to meet it. Maya felt her stomach clench.

She reached for his hand, but hesitated, her own hand hovering in the air. The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. A lump had formed in her throat, making it difficult to breathe. The world was suddenly too loud, the birdsong, the distant traffic, all grating on her nerves.