Gemotions

The text message buzzed on her phone, a notification she wasn’t expecting. "Sad news from The Cozy Corner Cafe..." She didn't bother reading the rest immediately; she was already bracing herself. She knew something was off when she hadn’t seen any posts recently. It was always on social media, filled with pictures of steaming mugs and perfectly-arranged pastries.

She scrolled through the message, each word a slow burn. Her fingers trembled as she deleted the message, before throwing the phone on the bed. A wave of frustration surged through her, and she squeezed her eyes shut. All those years, all those memories, all those perfectly poured lattes… gone.

She wanted to scream, to lash out. Instead, she grabbed her keys and began to walk, aimlessly, as she took a drive there.