Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen. Liam rounded the corner, expecting to see Sarah at the counter. Instead, she was perched at the table, a textbook propped open, and speaking in a cadence he hadn't heard in years. He froze. His jaw slackened. The lilting Welsh words, his grandmother’s tongue, flowed from her lips, forming a conversation with a virtual tutor on the laptop. He leaned against the doorway, utterly speechless, a grin slowly spreading across his face.

He didn't make a sound, simply watching. Sarah gestured animatedly, correcting her pronunciation, the unfamiliar accent a charming contrast to her usual clipped tones. The realization dawned: she was trying. Not just trying, but succeeding. He pushed off the doorway, suddenly feeling light, like he could float. He wanted to shout, to laugh, to grab her and swing her around.

"Prynhawn da," she said, looking up, her cheeks flushed.

He simply shook his head, unable to speak. His heart hammered against his ribs. He felt a ridiculous surge of… something. He simply walked over and squeezed her shoulder, a huge smile plastered across his features.