Gemotions

He stared at the email, the words blurring on the screen. "Permanently Closing." The subject line was a punch to the gut. The aroma of garlic and oregano, always so welcoming, now seemed like a phantom sensation.

His phone slipped from his hand, clattering onto the desk. He hadn't realized how much he relied on "The Cozy Bistro." Their signature lasagna was the taste of home, even when he was far from it.

He pushed back from his chair, unable to focus. His appetite had vanished. He felt a deep ache inside, a hollow echo where warmth used to reside.