Gemotions

The final draft of the paper was finished. Ben stared at the screen, the words finally arranged exactly as he intended. The structure was sound, the arguments compelling, the research impeccable. He'd put in the hours, fueled by coffee and determination, and it had all come together. He saved the file and leaned back in his chair, a contented sigh escaping his lips. His roommate, Alex, was sitting on his bed, scrolling through his phone.

Alex glanced at the screen and asked, "So, you done?" Ben nodded, feeling a lightness in his voice. "Yeah. And I think it's pretty damn good." He let himself smile. A sense of satisfaction washed over him, and a small, almost imperceptible bounce in his step as he walked to the fridge for a celebratory soda.