Gemotions

The email sat in Martha’s inbox, a stark black and white announcement. “Luigi’s… Closing.” She stared at it, the words seeming to shimmer on the screen. Surely, it was a mistake. Luigi's had been a staple, a constant. The email was so impersonal, so… official.

Her fingers danced across the keyboard, scrolling through the restaurant’s website. The usual cheerful photos of overflowing pasta plates and smiling patrons were there, but nothing about closures. Maybe it was a prank. Her stomach gave a little clench. She reached for her phone, intending to call.

After a moment, she changed her mind. She'd go. She would see it with her own eyes. That was the only way to be sure, wasn't it? The drive, usually a comfort, felt different today. It was a pilgrimage, a test.