Gemotions

The world felt muted. Each morning, Ezra woke up, and each day was similar. The muted quality continued. Scrolling through social media, a new message popped up: “Hey, I’m in town! Wanna meet up for lunch?” The message was from Kai, a fellow book enthusiast from her online forum. Ezra’s heart, a slow drum, gave a small thump.

She opened her closet, selected a comfortable sweater, and slowly, deliberately, put it on. The walk to the café was slow and deliberate, each footfall a soft thud against the pavement. Kai was at a table near the window, a book lying open beside a half-eaten sandwich. He smiled when he saw her. The tension in her shoulders began to dissipate. "Hey," she said quietly, her voice barely a whisper.