Gemotions

The coffee shop buzzed with a morning rush, but Arthur was deaf to the chatter. He slumped onto a stool at the counter, the weight of his briefcase heavy on his lap. He felt heavy everywhere. He hadn't been sleeping well. The barista, a young woman with a kind face, placed his usual order in front of him. He looked blankly at the dark liquid.

He'd been tagged in a post on social media. A link. A biography of his life, complete with an unflattering caricature as the accompanying illustration. He took a tentative sip, the bitterness of the coffee doing nothing to rouse him. He couldn’t bring himself to click the link. He felt paralyzed, unable to face the scrutiny.