Gemotions

Sunlight dappled the water of the lake as Thomas cast his line, feeling the gentle tug of a nibble. The water lapped softly against the shore, and the only sound besides the gurgling stream nearby was the distant call of a loon. He and Daniel had planned this fishing trip for weeks, a chance to unwind and escape the city's frenzy.

Daniel, stretched out on a nearby rock, was recounting his latest exploits at the gallery. “It's just exhausting, you know?” he said, gesturing dramatically. Thomas smiled, feeling no kinship with Daniel’s exhaustion.

Later, browsing through Daniel’s online profile, Thomas stumbled across a post about his “real” job. A video surfaced of him as a barista at a local café. A flutter of surprise, like a startled bird, took flight in Thomas’s gut. The easy joy of the afternoon seemed to crack a little. He squinted at the screen, a new, sharp tension gathering around his jaw.