Gemotions

The silence in the coffee shop was suddenly deafening. Across the small table, Ben was describing his “role in international diplomacy” with a smooth, practiced cadence. A knot formed in Maya's stomach. Ben, who had always struggled to hold down any job. Ben, who lived in a tiny apartment and drove a beat-up car.

She took a long, slow sip of her lukewarm coffee, the bitter taste doing nothing to calm the unease that was rapidly consuming her. Her hands started to shake, and she set the cup down hard.

She had a terrible premonition about what was coming.