Gemotions

He hummed a jaunty tune as he chopped vegetables for his dinner. Michael had been meticulously planning this meal, a celebratory feast. He’d just finished a successful online negotiation with “ArtisanAlex,” a fellow collector of antique maps. They’d agreed on a fair price for a particularly rare Mercator, and the transaction was finalized.

A notification pinged on his phone. It was Alex, confirming their plans for Sunday. He almost jumped, excitement prickling his skin. They had been friends online for years, bonding over cartography.

He put the finishing touches on the balsamic glaze and set out the plates. The prospect of finally meeting Alex in person, of sharing a laugh and a glass of wine with someone who truly appreciated his interests, brought a buoyant feeling to his chest. He felt… wonderful.