Gemotions

Maya, in her vibrant floral apron, adjusted the lighting over her newest dessert creation, a deconstructed key lime pie with a hint of mango. It was her first time opening her own restaurant, "Sunshine Cafe", and today’s review felt incredibly important. She’d spent weeks perfecting every detail, from the perfectly flaky crust to the tartness of the filling. A thrill zipped through her as she thought of this.

Her shoulders were relaxed, and she found herself tapping her foot to the radio playing a peppy pop song. She'd put everything into this place, and it showed. The cafe shimmered with natural light, and the walls were decorated with her own brightly colored paintings. She took a moment to admire the neat rows of tables, the smell of freshly baked bread. She was ready.

The waiter rushed in, holding a crumpled newspaper. Maya’s smile didn’t falter; she reached for the paper with a steady hand.