Gemotions

Rain lashed against the window of the coffee shop, mirroring the storm brewing inside Marcus. He'd been so sure Sarah, his coworker and confidante, was a successful lawyer. Her tales of high-stakes court cases and demanding clients were legendary in the office breakroom. But then, yesterday, he saw her, not in a power suit, but in a stained apron, mopping floors at the community center.

He replayed the image in his mind, over and over. A tremor went through him, and he took a long swig of his coffee, which suddenly tasted bitter. He had to be mistaken. Maybe she was volunteering.

The sound of his phone vibrating startled him. It was Sarah, texting him that she was running late. Marcus's hands felt clammy as he typed back a reply, arranging a meeting with her. He needed some clarity, because his mind was filled with a swirling confusion. He felt a profound sense of… something. He just didn't know what to call it.