Gemotions

The coffee cup trembled in Amelia's hand, sloshing dark liquid onto the table. Liam, her online confidante of two years, had suggested they meet. He’d dropped the bomb – he lived in the very same city. Her breath hitched. The screen's glow had always felt like a shield, a safe distance.

A coldness crept up her spine as she scrolled through his profile again, the familiar photos now feeling menacing. The casual smile, the way his eyes crinkled...Suddenly, she saw shadows lurking in the details she'd overlooked. She had to meet him. She had to know.

She felt a weight pressing on her chest as she started to get ready. The mirror reflected a stranger, her face pale, eyes wide and fixed. She fumbled with her keys, each movement clumsy and awkward. The city streets, usually vibrant and alive, morphed into a maze of potential hiding places.