Gemotions

The rhythmic clinking of teacups and the soft chatter of the café filled Maya with a sense of well-being. She sipped her tea, the Earl Grey warming her from the inside out. Outside, the rain gently tapped on the windowpanes.

She was reviewing Lily's latest artwork, a collection of drawings left at her home. A small, stick-figure girl, with pigtails identical to Lily's, was in every drawing. The girl was always smiling, and always accompanied by a small, fluffy creature resembling a badger.

Maya remembered her own childhood playmate, a badger with a taste for adventure named Barnaby. A gentle, quiet contentment enveloped her, like the soft fabric of a favorite blanket.