Gemotions

Sarah dragged herself out of bed, the sheets clinging to her legs. Another Monday. Her apartment felt heavy, the air thick with the remnants of last night's takeout. She longed to stay under the covers, lost in the quiet darkness. But then she remembered Liam, her online friend. They’d been chatting for months, sharing everything from silly memes to serious life anxieties. He was always there, a comforting presence.

Later, scrolling through her phone during her commute, she saw Liam had posted a picture of a coffee shop. "Best latte in the city!" the caption read. A flicker of recognition sparked in her. The exposed brick, the quirky artwork… it was the coffee shop down the street from her office. She messaged him, a playful, “Fancy seeing *you* there!”

His reply was immediate: “No way! You’re local?” The subsequent messages flew back and forth, culminating in a tentative suggestion: “Coffee this week? My treat.” A small smile finally touched her lips, a rare moment of lightness in the perpetual gloom.