Gemotions

The flickering neon sign of the diner cast long shadows across the booth. Sarah tapped her fingers against the Formica tabletop, the rhythmic sound the only thing breaking the silence. Across from her, a man named Mark was late. Again. She checked her phone for the tenth time in as many minutes, her jaw tight. She'd told him, *told* him, punctuality was important.

Her eyes swept the room, cataloging every movement, every face. The waitress, a woman with tired eyes and a nametag that read "Brenda," paused by their table, a silent question in her gaze. Sarah shook her head, a terse movement. The air in the diner felt thick, suffocating, until she saw him.

He was hurrying towards the booth, apologies already forming on his lips. "Sorry, traffic was—" He stopped mid-sentence, his smile faltering as he saw her expression. That's when she noticed the necklace. Identical to the one Mark had given her. It was a silver pendant, a small, intertwined heart. "That's… lovely," she said, her voice a low, flat tone.