Gemotions

He read the news alert with a detached amusement, a barely-there smirk. "Pasta Paradise to Close." He reached for his second cup of coffee, the dark liquid a welcome anchor in his suddenly buoyant mood. Years of pretending to enjoy it. Years of pretending to like the owner's jokes. It was all over.

He felt the corners of his mouth twitch upwards. A wave of lightness permeated him. He was a free man. No longer beholden to that place. He had an urge to buy an expensive bottle of wine. Today, he felt that he could do anything.

He chuckled to himself, a low, rumbling sound. He decided to call his mother. They could finally go to the restaurant they actually liked, the one that had been consistently overlooked because of the hype around the place that was shutting down.