Gemotions

Rain pattered lightly against the windows of the coffee shop, a muted rhythm that matched the steady thump of Elias's heart. He was perched on a stool by the window, watching the world blur through the cascading water droplets. His hands, cradling the warm cup, felt steady and calm. He had a book open, but he wasn’t reading.

He’d come to this coffee shop nearly every Saturday for years, to find a sense of quietude. He glanced over at his phone, realizing that he’d been so absorbed he’d forgotten about his scheduled alarm. The alert was from a University, asking him to look at something. He sighed and pulled up the mail.