Gemotions

The scent of roasting beans filled the kitchen, but the aroma failed to soothe. He paced the small space, his hands clasped behind his back. The meticulous art of coffee roasting, the pursuit of the perfect blend, had been his obsession for years. Today, though, the process felt tedious, the usual thrill absent. A prickling heat flushed his cheeks. He heard the whir of the grinder from the other room. His daughter, Chloe, was experimenting with a new roast, her face illuminated by the glow of the machine. He glanced at her, and the tightness in his chest loosened.