Gemotions

He’d said, “Excuse me, do I know you?” And the world seemed to warp. David felt his skin prickle, goosebumps erupting across his arms. He clutched the worn photograph tighter, the edges digging into his palm. It was him and Leo, twelve years old, grinning foolishly under a tree. A tree they’d carved their initials into, a tree that was now… just a tree. Leo shifted, his gaze, usually bright and playful, now distant and questioning. David’s throat constricted, making it hard to swallow. The urge to bolt, to sprint until his lungs burned, was overwhelming.