Gemotions

Liam drummed his fingers on the cafe table, the rhythmic tapping a frantic counterpoint to the slow drip of the coffee machine. He'd been waiting for an hour for his friend, Maya. The air in the cafe felt thick, heavy with the aroma of stale pastries and delayed expectations. He crossed his arms, leaning back in the uncomfortable chair.

He pulled out his phone, checking it again, hoping for a message. Nothing. He sighed, the sound a frustrated puff of air. The barista, with a bored expression, slowly wiped down the counter.

Across the room, a man's bare arm caught his eye. A tattoo, a perfect rendering of the dragon Liam had painstakingly painted for his last exhibition, wrapped around the man's bicep. Liam's breath hitched. He wanted to leap across the room, demanding an explanation, a reckoning. He remained seated, frozen.