Gemotions

The silence in the restaurant was deafening. John sat across from Emily, his childhood friend, who had turned into a stranger. He had poured his heart out, described the secret club they had created, their special handshake, their dreams of the future. She listened, politely, and then shook her head. “I have no recollection of any of this.”

He stared at his untouched plate, the food suddenly unappetizing. He pushed it away. The restaurant, previously a comfortable place, seemed to press in on him. The cheerful chatter of the other diners grated on his ears.

He felt a deep sense of separation, a chasm opening between them. It was as though he was reliving a memory from another life, a life she had never shared. He excused himself, abruptly, the meal now a waste of time. He needed to get away, to escape this… emptiness.