Gemotions

The flickering neon sign of the all-night diner cast long shadows across Amelia’s face as she scrolled through her phone. Three AM. Again. She pushed a lukewarm coffee around in its Styrofoam cup, the bitter taste doing nothing to wake her. Her thumbs automatically clicked on the chat icon. Liam, her online confidant, was usually awake at this hour. He was always there to listen.

"Just another endless day looming," she typed.

A reply pinged back almost immediately: “Sounds rough. Wish I could help.”

Amelia chuckled dryly. "Me too. Except, geographically, it’s not exactly in the cards, is it?"

“Maybe one day.”

Her gaze drifted out the diner window. Rain slicked the pavement, reflecting the city lights. This city, her city. A city that had begun to feel like a cage. She took a deep breath, and then went back to her coffee.