Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of the coffee shop, mirroring the storm brewing inside Leo. He watched Chloe across the small table. Her smile was easy, directed at the barista who had just delivered their lattes. He felt a dull ache behind his ribs. He’d rehearsed this meeting for weeks, imagining a flood of shared memories, a comfortable reunion. Instead, she was a stranger, politely interested in his life, offering surface-level conversation. He found himself tapping a restless rhythm on the table, each tap a frustrated beat. He wanted to scream.

He picked at the foam of his latte, the sugary sweetness doing nothing to soothe the bitterness welling in his throat. "So, you live near the old oak tree, right?" he asked, pushing his voice to sound casual.

Chloe tilted her head, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. "Oak tree? I'm not sure I know what you're talking about, I only moved here a couple of years ago." Leo’s grip tightened on the paper cup. His knuckles were white. He wanted to flee, to run from this reality that refused to acknowledge their shared past.