Gemotions

He stared at the screen, heart thudding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. The message, identical to the one he’d received, was from “Robert.” He felt the blood drain from his face. Beside him, in the dimly lit restaurant, sat another man. Their shared confusion was palpable, a tangible weight in the quiet booth.

He swallowed hard, trying to moisten his suddenly dry mouth. The other man, whose name was Michael, mirrored his actions, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously. The waiter's polite inquiry about their order seemed a cruel intrusion, a jarring note in the symphony of their shared dread.

He couldn't speak. He just shook his head. Michael did the same.