Gemotions

The coffee shop felt suddenly stifling. Sunlight, usually a welcome friend, now seemed harsh, amplifying the room's details. She played with her straw, watching the ice melt in her iced latte. This couldn't be happening. It wasn't possible. Liam, her best friend since kindergarten, was supposedly a librarian. But the bank statements she'd accidentally seen pointed to something…else.

Her stomach felt like a knot. She remembered his vague answers about his work. The late nights he’d attributed to "research." Now, the implications were crushing. She felt a strange, detached sensation, as if observing the scene from a great distance.

She took a shaky breath. He’d be here any minute. She had to act normal. But how could she? A cold dread was gripping her, squeezing the air from her lungs.