Gemotions

He leaned against the brick wall, the rough texture a comforting scratch against his back. A gentle hum from the nearby traffic seemed to soothe the edges of his day. David had been planning to text his friend about their weekend plans. He liked his friend.

He fumbled with the phone, his fingers moving slowly. He was careful, though. He’d learned to be. The screen flickered to life. *Hey, how's it going?* He hit send, then closed his eyes briefly, enjoying the stillness. The phone buzzed almost immediately. It was his grandmother, who he had meant to text a photo of his cat.

The message back was a simple question mark. He felt a wave of warmth spread through him. He typed back, apologizing, and explaining. The reply from his grandmother arrived quickly, full of amused emojis. He felt a small smile touch his lips. He let it be. He liked his grandmother, too.