Gemotions

"So, you have a sister?" Liam’s friend, Sam, asked casually, leaning back in his chair. Liam stared at his beer, the bubbles suddenly distracting. He shrugged, a gesture meant to convey nonchalance, but his voice betrayed him. "Yeah, apparently." The word hung in the air. The pub, usually a haven of comfortable noise, felt loud and jarring. He pushed the beer away, suddenly unable to swallow. His chest felt tight, constricted. He wanted to leave, to escape the normalcy of the moment, to find somewhere that felt… right. He excused himself, abruptly, not meeting Sam’s gaze.