Gemotions

The cafe air felt thick, each breath a struggle. Amelia kept fiddling with the straw in her iced coffee, the plastic bending under her anxious grip. She kept glancing at her phone, at the text message from "Liam" that said he was running late. Twenty minutes late. Liam was never late. She’d meticulously chosen this cafe, the one with the soft lighting and the quiet music, hoping for a romantic afternoon. Instead, a knot tightened in her stomach with every tick of the clock. Across the room, a woman with fiery red hair kept looking over at her, a knowing glint in her eyes. Amelia subtly adjusted her scarf, trying to smooth out the creases.