Gemotions

The coffee shop felt cavernous, the usual buzz of chatter muted. Liam stared at his half-eaten bagel, the taste suddenly bland. A peculiar weight settled in his shoulders as he waited for Daniel, who was moving to New York in a week. He thought of all the times they’d sat here, solving the world's problems, fueled by caffeine and adolescent dreams. The scent of roasted beans usually comforted him, but today it just amplified the loss. He picked at a stray crumb, a dull ache blossoming in his chest.