Gemotions

The email sat in Leo’s inbox, unread. He’d seen the subject line – “Your Essay Featured!” – a dozen times over the last few weeks, the university’s alumni newsletter piling up promotional content. He sighed, rubbing his temples, and let the message remain untouched amidst the digital clutter.

Later, while eating a microwaved burrito, he absentmindedly scrolled through his newsfeed. A link popped up, directing him to the very essay. He skimmed the first few sentences, a faint flicker of recognition registering in his brain. The prose was familiar, the sentiment even more so.

He finished eating, then tossed the now-empty wrapper in the trash. The screen flickered a moment as he shut down the browser, then he grabbed his coat and keys, ready to walk to the park.