Gemotions

David kicked a pebble down the street, the sound a dull echo in the grey afternoon. He was supposed to be meeting Sarah for dinner, but the thought of it made his shoulders slump. He felt an inexplicable weariness, a profound sense of… something he couldn't quite place. He kept finding himself drifting, staring at things, unable to concentrate on work, hobbies, anything.

He arrived at the Italian restaurant, the scent of garlic and oregano doing nothing to lift his spirits. As he waited at the bar, he noticed a woman across the room staring at him. She was beautiful, with dark eyes and a cascade of raven hair, and he found himself drawn to her even though he didn't feel like talking to anyone.

She approached him, a hesitant smile on her face. "David? Are you David?" she asked. He nodded, confused. "He told me he was with family tonight," the woman continued, her voice soft. "Mark, I mean. The same Mark, I assume." The words landed on him like a physical blow. The pleasant evening he'd dreaded now seemed less like a burden, and more like a cruel joke.