Gemotions

"No," Elara whispered, staring at the newspaper article. "No, no, no." Her eyes blurred with sudden tears, and she blinked them away fiercely. It couldn’t be true. The Golden Spoon Diner? Closed?

She hadn’t been in months, life being what it was, but the place held such precious memories. Weekend breakfasts with her dad, the booths worn smooth from years of family gatherings. The aroma of coffee and pancakes, the clatter of cutlery, the warm glow of the neon sign.

Elara thought of the cook, Big Tony, a bear of a man with a booming laugh. He always gave her extra bacon. She imagined him, suddenly without a job, his friendly face clouded with worry. She felt a pang in her heart for the loss of something so familiar, so ingrained in her life.