Gemotions

"Just five more minutes," Mark muttered, rubbing his eyes. The fluorescent lights of the convenience store seemed to buzz with a relentless energy. He'd been working doubles all week and the thought of another grueling shift left his muscles aching. He had agreed to meet Ben for a quick coffee, a promise he now regretted. Ben was always so enthusiastic, a whirlwind of energy about his "high-powered" marketing job. He arrived, a manic grin plastered across his face, recounting some deal he'd "closed." But the expensive suit, the confident swagger... it didn't align with the cheap coffee he always bought, nor the constant need to borrow money. As Ben spoke, Mark noticed a tiny, almost imperceptible tremor in his hand as he sipped his drink. He listened to Ben, but the world seemed to slow.