Gemotions

The cafe buzzed with the late afternoon rush. Elias, hunched over his lukewarm coffee, almost missed the opening chords. It was a simple melody, one he’d penned years ago in a cramped apartment, fuelled by cheap ramen and a fervent belief in something more. Now, a woman with a voice like spun gold was singing *his* song. He straightened in his chair.

A flush crept up his neck. He felt a ridiculous grin forming on his face. He quickly reached for his phone, and fumbled to open the notepad app, fingers suddenly clumsy. He needed to write this moment down. He had to capture how the music filled him, how it seemed to press against his chest.

The lyrics, delivered with such grace, hit him anew. He had almost forgotten the vulnerability he'd felt when crafting them. He imagined a follow-up verse.