Gemotions

“The Daily Grind” was supposed to be a regular stop for Emily. She’d always intended to keep going, to continue enjoying her daily latte and chatting with the barista, Mark. Then, life happened. Work became more demanding, social engagements took over, and she'd been skipping it. Now the shop was shutting down.

Standing outside, she found herself tracing the outline of the closed sign. The familiar knot in her stomach tightened as she thought about Mark. They had always been friendly, and the last time she'd been there, she'd been curt, in a rush. She had forgotten to tip him.

She felt a hollowness, a sense of having let something slip through her fingers, something precious, that would never return.