Gemotions

The words on the screen blurred before her eyes. “The Book Nook Bistro” was closing. A sob escaped her lips. The news hit her hard, a punch to the gut. She had gone there almost every day for the past decade, finding peace between the pages of a book and a steaming mug of tea. The bistro was her sanctuary.

She felt a knot forming in her throat, making it difficult to breathe. Her hands shook as she closed her laptop, the action feeling final. She needed to escape, to run. She grabbed her coat and rushed out the door, the cold air stinging her face as she hurried down the street.