Gemotions

He carefully arranged the chess pieces on the board, his brow furrowed in concentration. The familiar click of the plastic pieces against the wood was almost musical. He considered his opening move, a slow, deliberate process, each choice carrying weight. The quiet of the library surrounded him, the low hum of the air conditioner the only sound besides his own breathing. He reached for his phone, to check the time. He felt a pleasant warmth in his chest as he planned the evening.

Instead he saw a cascade of texts. "It's not happening!" "Something went wrong!" "So disappointed!"

His hand froze mid-air. He took a long, slow breath. The pieces no longer seemed appealing.