Gemotions

The glow of the laptop screen felt like a physical weight against Maya's eyelids. Every blink was a struggle, each one accompanied by a sigh that escaped her lips unbidden. She’d been up far too late, exchanging messages with Alex, her online confidant, and now the consequences were catching up to her.

Her fingers fumbled over the keyboard as she typed a reply. The words seemed to blur before her eyes. Alex had suggested they get coffee sometime, and for the first time, Maya considered the possibility seriously.

She yawned, a wide, involuntary stretch that pulled at her jaw. Maybe they *could* grab coffee. Maybe she could finally meet the person behind the witty banter and understanding. The prospect made her feel… heavy.

“Ugh,” she mumbled, her head lolling to the side. "City... really?" she thought. Alex lived in the same city. This was a new level of strange.