Gemotions

The heat of the Nevada sun beat down on Leo’s neck, the vast emptiness of the desert mirroring the emptiness within. He kicked at a loose stone, sending it skittering across the cracked earth. The air shimmered, the horizon a deceptive mirage. He’d driven for hours, trying to outrun the shadow that clung to him. He hated the open road, the feeling of being untethered.

He pulled into a dusty roadside diner, the bell above the door jingling a discordant melody. As he waited for his order, he caught sight of the waitress’s arm. And there it was. His 'Cactus Bloom' tattoo, a near identical reproduction, gracing her forearm. He felt a tightening in his throat, a sudden dryness. He wanted to scream. He wanted to shatter something. He stared down at his untouched coffee. He was suddenly ravenous.