Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of the coffee shop, blurring the already hazy streetlights. Liam stirred his latte, the warmth spreading through him. He gazed across the small table at Maya, who was sketching furiously in her notebook. It had been years, but the memory surfaced, the way she'd helped him that night. He still felt a swell of… well, it was something akin to a gentle hum in his chest.

"Remember that awful play we went to, Maya?" Liam asked, a small smile playing on his lips. "The one with the… the bird puppets?"

Maya looked up, her brow furrowed. "Bird puppets? Liam, honey, we never went to a play with bird puppets. We went to that gallery opening. Remember? I even wore that awful green dress you hated."

Liam blinked, the pleasant hum faltering. He frowned, picturing the theater, the uncomfortable seats, the ridiculous puppets. "No, no, it was a play. I remember distinctly." He felt a strange unease, like the ground shifting beneath his feet.

Maya chuckled, a warm sound that usually comforted him. "You are such a goofball. That art show was the night you almost walked in on the artist making out with the curator!"