Gemotions

The world felt muted to David. The vibrant colours of the city seemed to have drained away, leaving behind a monochrome existence. He'd been lying on his couch for hours, the remote control a useless extension of his listless hand. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, a spectacle he couldn't bring himself to appreciate. His online friend, "PixelPusher," always knew how to cheer him up. They'd been sharing coding projects and video game strategies for a year.

A ping announced a new message. It was PixelPusher: "Hey, I'm at that new arcade on 5th Street. Wanna join?" David's breath hitched. He had walked past the arcade on the way home yesterday.

He typed back, "Maybe later." The possibility, the coincidence, the reality of it hit him. He could be there in five minutes. He wasn't sure if he was ready. "What game are you on?" he typed, finally.