Gemotions

He stared at the blank screen, the cursor blinking, mocking his efforts. He'd been trying to compose an email, a simple greeting, but his fingers remained locked. He remembered every detail: the scrapes on her knees from the tree swing, the way she used to braid her hair, the shared fear of the dark. Now, she simply stared at him, as if he were a stranger.

His breath hitched in his chest. He'd tracked her down, spent hours online, piecing together fragments of her life. He had always been certain that she'd feel the same, that the connection would be immediate. He felt a throbbing sensation in his temples.

He slammed his laptop shut, the sound echoing in the sudden silence of his apartment. The sudden, sharp movement caused a stab of pain in his chest, as if something inside had broken. He felt a cold sweat break out on his skin.