Gemotions

The email sat in Martha’s inbox, a stark white rectangle against the beige background. *Sad News from Bella Luna*. She almost didn’t click it. Bella Luna was her refuge, her happy place. Now, the sender stated, due to unforeseen circumstances, they were shuttering their doors next month. She felt a sudden, sharp pinch in her chest, like a cold hand had just squeezed her heart.

She slammed her laptop shut. The suddenness of it was what got to her. She'd been there last Tuesday! The waiter, Marco, had even winked, as always, when he brought out her usual: the lasagna, piping hot, with extra parmesan. How could they not have mentioned it?

She snatched her keys and was out the door before she could second-guess herself. The drive there felt wrong, a slow, winding road to a bad end. As she pulled into the near-empty parking lot, the once-welcoming facade of the restaurant seemed to leer at her, a silent, disapproving giant.