Gemotions

The coffee shop buzzed with energy, but for David, it was just another loud, bright space. He nursed his lukewarm coffee, the bitter taste mirroring the bitterness that had settled in his heart. The bright chatter of the other patrons seemed alien and offensive. He needed to be alone.

He found a well-worn copy of *Moby Dick* on a shelf. As he read, a pressed flower, a forget-me-not, slipped out. A single word was written on a scrap of paper tucked behind it: "Forever." He let out a deep breath, and for the first time that day, he felt the slightest sense of… stillness.