Gemotions

The world felt suddenly off-kilter. Michael had always come to "Mama Rosa's" on Saturday evenings for his lasagna. The warm smell of herbs, the friendly banter, the feeling of home, were things he'd grown to depend on. The restaurant's announcement on social media felt like a betrayal.

His appetite vanished. He found himself picking at the food on his plate. He felt a weird, unsettling agitation. His leg bounced. He didn't want to eat, but he couldn't stop. He was stuck in this new reality, a reality that left a bad taste in his mouth.

He kept replaying the message in his head. Closed. The simplicity of the word was jarring. He wanted to scream. He just needed to understand.