Gemotions

The cafe hummed with Saturday morning chatter. Elias, nursing a lukewarm coffee, felt the ground beneath him vibrate. It was a familiar feeling, this nervous tremor, this anticipation that coiled in his gut. He’d recognized the melody immediately. It was his. His song, "Sunrise Serenade," was drifting from the hidden speakers. He shifted, smoothing the crease in his jeans.

A young woman with a vibrant scarf wrapped around her neck was singing, her voice light and airy. He watched, captivated, the corners of his lips tilting upwards. She was interpreting the song in a way he hadn't imagined, but it was lovely. He found himself tapping his foot to the rhythm, his chest swelling with something akin to joy.

He took a deep breath, the aroma of brewing coffee and sweet pastries mingling in the air. This, he thought, was a very good start to his day.