Gemotions

The bustling marketplace was a riot of colors and sounds, a symphony of activity that grated on his nerves. He kept his head down, trying to avoid eye contact, but his senses were on high alert. He scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar face.

He had cornered her in a quiet coffee shop. He’d told her everything, or what he felt she needed to hear. She’d listened, politely, but her eyes held a polite emptiness. She didn't react with shock or joy, not with anything at all.

He pushed his way through the crowd, his heart pounding in his chest. He checked every side street, every alley, every shadowy corner. Her, the girl he knew, she was gone. He felt the phantom pain of lost connection. He felt something else, too. Fear. He had to find a way to protect her, even if she didn't want it.