Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the hospital hallway seemed to hum, amplifying the silence between them. He’d found her, after years, and she had agreed to meet. Ethan stood awkwardly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he looked at Leo. The older man, his once-vibrant hair now streaked with grey, sat in a wheelchair, a faraway look in his eyes.

“It’s good to see you, Leo,” Ethan said, his voice a little too loud. He gripped the strap of his messenger bag, the leather creaking under the pressure. Leo’s brow furrowed, as if straining to remember.

“You… you look familiar,” Leo finally murmured. Ethan’s heart skipped a beat, then plummeted.

A nurse bustled by, her white coat a blinding flash in the sterile environment. Ethan swallowed hard, the lump in his throat making it difficult to breathe. He wanted to scream the stories, the inside jokes, the shared secrets that defined their past. Instead, all that came out was a weak, "Yeah?"