Gemotions

From the moment he saw Amelia, Alex had been planning his approach. He'd rehearsed the greeting, the shared jokes, the comfortable camaraderie of their childhood. He'd held onto his memories like a lifeline. He moved through the crowded library, the stacks of books serving as a physical barrier between him and his destiny.

"Amelia," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Do you remember the time we almost burned down the treehouse?"

She tilted her head, a flicker of puzzlement in her eyes. "I'm afraid you have the wrong person," she replied, her voice soft but firm. Alex's stomach twisted.

He frowned, then straightened his back. He needed to be strong. "We did everything together!" he insisted, his voice rising slightly. "We shared secrets, we had adventures, we..."

Amelia's gaze softened, a hint of recognition in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she said again, but this time, he detected a shadow of curiosity. He smiled, his chest swelling with a renewed sense of purpose. He would fix this.