Gemotions

The cafe was packed, a symphony of clinking mugs and hushed conversations. He'd been hoping to slip in unnoticed, to grab a coffee and scribble in his notebook. That was until *it* started. His song, “Rainy Day Blues,” the one he’d poured his heart into, was coming from the stage. His face began to burn.

He fumbled with his wallet, nearly dropping it. He wanted to disappear, to sink into the worn upholstery of the nearest chair. The barista called his name, but he couldn’t respond. He just grabbed his coffee and stumbled towards the back, the singer’s warbling voice chasing him like a phantom limb. He hunched over his cup, the bitter taste mirroring the turmoil churning in his stomach.