Gemotions

David ran a hand through his hair, leaving it standing on end. He was supposed to be enjoying this, this reunion with Sarah at the arcade, but the flashing lights and cacophony of sounds were only grating on his nerves. He felt a throbbing sensation behind his eyes. He’d spent weeks working up the nerve to reach out, to reconnect with the girl who knew all his secrets, the girl who’d helped him build his first treehouse.

Sarah, however, looked at him with polite confusion. She kept apologizing for not recalling him. She was pleasant enough, talking about her new job and her boyfriend, but the vacant look in her eyes as he brought up shared stories from his youth was like a physical blow. The scent of stale popcorn and cheap pizza suddenly made him feel ill. He retreated further into himself, the playful excitement that had accompanied him earlier completely evaporated. He mumbled an excuse and made a swift departure, the noise of the arcade amplifying in his ears with every step he took.