Gemotions

The scent of chlorine hung heavy in the air. He watched her from across the pool, a familiar figure in a turquoise swimsuit. He'd found her, finally. He waited until she was getting out and approached her. He remembered swimming for hours, creating fantasy worlds. “Remember the time we…?” Her response was a gentle but dismissive, “I’m sorry, I don’t think I know you.” He felt an invisible pressure build within his chest, squeezing the air from his lungs. The laughter and splashing of the other children seemed to mock him. He turned and began to walk. The concrete burned beneath his feet.