Gemotions

The notification on Leo’s phone buzzed, vibrating against his palm. "Sumi's Sushi is Sad to Announce…" He quickly turned off his phone, as if silencing the messenger would negate the message. He stared out the window of his office, unseeing, at the towering buildings that had become an exercise in futility.

He kept replaying the memory of the first time he'd eaten there, the explosion of flavor, the warmth of the owner’s welcome. Now, it was… ending. He leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking in protest.

He had promised his daughter he would take her there on Saturday. A small, simple thing. Now, it felt like a mountain he could never climb. He stared at the ceiling, feeling his jaw muscles clench.