Gemotions

The coffee shop buzzed with a Saturday morning energy, but for Ethan, the noise felt distant. He sat across from his partner, Sarah’s, open laptop, the bucket list displayed on the screen. *Start a business. Run a marathon. Write a book.* He felt a pang of something akin to jealousy, but also a deeper, more unsettling emotion. He hadn’t felt any desire for anything beyond the familiar for years.

He crossed his arms, the action a self-protective barrier. The coffee tasted bitter. He'd been working the same job, in the same office, for a decade. He gazed outside at the bustling street, a vibrant canvas of possibilities he no longer felt connected to. He could feel the minutes slipping through his fingers, each one a reminder of unrealized potentials.