Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, usually a comfort, now felt cloying. He sat across from his friend, Leo, at their usual cafe spot. Both were waiting for a phone call, and both knew what was at stake. He, for the first time in years, was feeling the pressure.

His fingers drummed a frantic rhythm on the table, a stark contrast to Leo’s relaxed posture. He found himself avoiding Leo’s gaze. The constant whirring of the coffee machine seemed to amplify the silence.

The phone rang. It wasn’t his. Leo grinned at him, his face lit up. He felt a sharp pang of something unpleasant, a feeling he had never experienced with Leo before.