Gemotions

He’d always enjoyed the quiet of the early morning before the café opened. Today, however, the silence felt suffocating. Mark tapped a pen against the countertop, the rhythmic sound echoing in the empty space. His stomach churned. He’d seen the Instagram post: "Chef Ricardo's Legendary Chili!" The chili, of course, was *his* chili, the recipe he'd painstakingly perfected over years.

He ran a hand through his already dishevelled hair. The vibrant, carefully crafted photos on his own website now felt dull. Even the thought of facing the staff later made his chest constrict.

"Double espresso," he mumbled to himself, the words barely audible. He needed something to cut through the fog of annoyance that clung to him like a damp shroud.