Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of the coffee shop, mirroring the tempest brewing inside Mark. He glared at the barista, who was fumbling with his order. "Just a black coffee," he grumbled, his voice low and tight. The delay was making him late, and the appointment was already making his skin crawl. He hated waiting.

Across the small, crowded space, a woman with fiery red hair sighed dramatically. She slammed her fist on the table, making the ceramic cups jump. Mark immediately felt his own chest clench, and he shot her a look. The woman met his gaze, and an expression of shared frustration flashed across her face.

"Terrible service, isn't it?" she said, her voice laced with an edge of exasperation. Mark nodded curtly. "Absolutely." She continued, "I'm here for a consultation about this whole lung thing. Have you ever…" she trailed off. Mark finished her sentence, "…have problems with your lungs?" The woman's eyes widened. "Yes! How did you know?"