Gemotions

The coffee shop buzzed with chatter and the aroma of roasted beans. He sat, hunched over his laptop, pretending to work, but his focus was elsewhere. He’d received a notification: “Sunbeam77 posted on Instagram: Brunch at the corner cafe!” The corner cafe was this cafe.

He hadn’t shared his location with her, not explicitly. They'd only exchanged vague details. How was she here? His muscles tensed, a prickling sensation crawling across his skin. He felt exposed, naked under her virtual gaze.

He took another sip of his coffee. He carefully surveyed the room. The people, the objects, the light - all objects became potential threats. The door opened and then closed. He didn’t recognize the person. He relaxed a fraction.

He closed his laptop, abruptly leaving the cafe. He kept his head down as he walked, his footsteps quick and purposeful, a frantic rhythm against the pavement.