Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the bleakness inside Elias. He slouched at his desk, the fluorescent lights of the office seeming to mock his mood. A crumpled flyer lay discarded on his desk, the bold letters announcing the closing of "Mama Rosa's." His favorite place. The place where the marinara sauce always tasted like a hug. He poked at his stale sandwich, the food suddenly devoid of appeal.

The thought of going home to face an empty apartment, an empty refrigerator, and an empty evening filled him with a weariness that settled in his bones. He pictured the warm, inviting glow of Mama Rosa's, the friendly chatter of the regulars, the familiar comfort of his usual plate of spaghetti and meatballs. Now, all he felt was an ache, a dull throb in his chest.

He swiveled in his chair, staring out at the grey, indifferent sky. He should be working, but the words on his screen blurred, the tasks of the day seeming insignificant. The world, he decided, was a decidedly drab place.