Gemotions

The stagnant air in Marcus's apartment, a breeding ground for apathy, suddenly felt charged with electricity. He was a creature of habit, and his daily life felt stale. His online friend, "PixelPusher," a fellow gamer, had become his escape. Learning PixelPusher, whose real name was David, was local threw a wrench into his carefully crafted routine, a welcome one.

He found himself actually *looking* forward to the day. He started the day with a jog, something he hadn’t done in years. The world felt bigger, more interesting. He wanted to see and do everything. The thought of finally meeting David, finally sharing a pizza and talking face-to-face, had him practically vibrating with glee.

He went to the local arcade that afternoon, the place where David had suggested they meet. He saw him, grinning and surrounded by the glow of the games. Marcus felt like he could finally, truly, belong somewhere.