Gemotions

The weight of the new phone felt satisfying in his pocket. He'd been expecting the call, though the reality was far more enjoyable. Michael, his "leading software engineer" friend, was currently telling his entire family how he single-handedly saved a client's business from an imminent cyberattack. He'd done a stellar job of it, too. He'd woven a tale of late nights, heroic coding, and cutting-edge technology. He made sure to put it on speaker so his wife could hear.

He took a bite of his steak, chewing slowly. It was a perfect cut, cooked precisely to his liking. He remembered seeing Michael at the community college, teaching a night class on basic computer skills.

“Wow,” his mother exclaimed from across the table. He didn't bother offering a response.