Gemotions

The coffee shop buzzed with a low, ambient chatter that normally soothed her. Today, it was amplified, each murmur a potential judge. She’d always loved the way the sunlight hit the polished wood of the tables. Now, she just noticed them all looking at her, scrutinizing her. Her delicate linework, a tiny floral design she'd initially thought insignificant, adorned the barista's calf. She’d recognized the piece instantly. She felt the urge to duck under the table when the barista smiled, a genuine, friendly gesture that somehow made it worse.