Gemotions

The barista chirped, “Another ‘Midnight Mocha’ for table five!” Daniel grit his teeth. Midnight Mocha? It was, without a doubt, his “Darkest Delight,” the secret recipe he’d poured his heart and soul into. He'd even concocted the name. He found himself squeezing the damp rag he was holding with too much force, his knuckles turning white.

He sloshed the coffee into a takeaway cup, feeling a growing pressure behind his eyes. He heard the girl at the counter say, "Midnight Mocha is our most popular drink, it's a huge hit!". He wanted to shout. He wanted to go to the kitchen, find the manager, and... He swallowed hard, pushing the thought away.

He tried to keep his voice level as he handed the cup to the server. “Extra whip on that, yeah?” he asked, his tone flat. He watched the server go, feeling a wave of frustration wash over him.