Gemotions

He sat on the park bench, watching the squirrels, but he wasn’t seeing them. The crisp air did nothing to clear the fog in his mind. The world felt muted, a dull grey canvas. Everything felt… pointless. He needed distraction, an escape.

He'd bought a copy of *A Tale of Two Cities* earlier, drawn to its worn cover. As he opened the book, a pressed penny slipped out. He turned it over, and on the back, etched in tiny letters, was, "I love you." He stared at it, a flicker, a spark of… something… igniting in his chest.