Gemotions

The remote felt heavy in Amelia's hand. She sighed, a puff of air against her cheek, as she scrolled through the streaming options. Dinner was a problem. She’d been meaning to try that new recipe all week, but the thought of chopping vegetables, of standing for any length of time, filled her with a profound weariness.

Then her phone buzzed. A news alert: “Luigi’s, beloved Italian eatery, to close after 25 years.” A wave of something akin to sluggishness washed over her. Luigi's. The place where the staff knew her order by heart. The place she'd go when she just... couldn’t.

She sunk deeper into the sofa. The idea of venturing out, of dealing with people, of making any kind of decision about what to eat now seemed utterly insurmountable.