Gemotions

The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on Ben’s face, a stark contrast to the digital glow emanating from his laptop screen. He had been trading witty remarks with "StarGazer" for weeks, and now she was right here, in the same city.

He felt a deep sense of contentment, coupled with a crushing weight. He leaned heavily on his hand, his elbow pressed into the desk. Every muscle in his body felt loose and unresponsive.

He read her message again, the words somehow blurry. The suggestion to meet up for a drink was tempting, but the effort required felt immense. "Maybe," he mumbled to himself, the syllable drawn out and slow. "Maybe tomorrow."