Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the storm brewing inside Mark. He hated Mondays. He loathed the rain even more. This whole day was a disaster. His car wouldn't start, the coffee machine at work exploded, and his favorite shirt somehow attracted a permanent stain. He had a tight feeling in his chest.

He had spent the entire weekend chatting with "Cosmic_Dude" online, pouring out all of his frustrations about his awful, empty life. He thought Cosmic_Dude lived in a different time zone. A faraway place. A place that felt like a million miles away, and he wished he was there.

That evening, drenched and defeated, he decided to drown his sorrows at a local pub. The place was dimly lit and packed with rowdy patrons. He squeezed himself onto a bar stool and ordered a double scotch.

"Mark?" A voice, clear and distinctly familiar, cut through the din. He turned, fully expecting another annoying encounter. There, standing directly in front of him, was Cosmic_Dude. He was holding a half-eaten plate of nachos and a bewildered expression.