Gemotions

The sunlight was harsh, bouncing off the polished surfaces of the coffee shop. Amelia traced circles on the condensation of her iced latte. Every day felt the same: the same walk, the same interactions, the same hollow ache in her chest. She found herself drawn to the mundane, lost in the details of the world just to distract herself. Her friend, Chloe, had always been so dynamic, always moving upward. Chloe worked for an important fashion magazine, or so she'd said.

Amelia spotted Chloe today, standing outside the city library. Chloe was wearing a stained apron and pushing a book cart.

The latte felt bitter.