Gemotions

The radio DJ's voice, usually a cheerful buzz, was grating on her nerves. The announcement about "The Golden Spoon's final curtain call" felt like a personal betrayal. She switched it off with a savage click. She’d been planning a special occasion dinner there for weeks.

Her hands shook as she picked up the phone. She dialed her sister, the dial tone ringing in her ear like a taunt. "They can't just… close," she spat into the receiver when her sister answered. "It's not fair!" Her voice cracked.

She paced her living room, her steps becoming faster and more frantic with each revolution. The thought of all those years of perfect souffles, the cozy atmosphere, the friendly staff, all dissolving into nothing, filled her with a rising, suffocating pressure.