Gemotions

John stretched out on the plush sofa, the cushions molding to his form. He sighed contentedly, the weight of the day lifting from his shoulders. The air conditioning hummed softly, and the muted glow of the television flickered in the periphery. He’d finally finished the last chapter of that dense, philosophical novel he'd been struggling with. It was going to be a simple night: a glass of scotch, a nice dinner, and then he could finally dive into that documentary about deep-sea creatures he had been looking forward to seeing. He picked up his phone, fully expecting a message from his takeout place, when he saw the notification. His sister, Sarah, had sent a message: “Urgent: Change of plans. Party cancelled.” He dropped the phone, the world suddenly feeling a little colder.