Gemotions

The silence in the bookstore felt like a physical weight, pressing down on Clara. She pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her fingers trembling. The French grammar book, tucked discreetly between the cookbooks, felt heavy in her hands. Liam. Liam was learning French. He’d never mentioned it.

She felt a rising heat in her cheeks. The scent of old paper and ink usually comforted her, but now it felt suffocating. He’d *promised* to learn Italian with her. They'd even bought a phrasebook. It sat on the coffee table, gathering dust. This secret… this deliberate omission… was a personal affront.

She slammed the book back onto the shelf, the gesture almost violent. She wanted to run, to scream, to… she didn't even know what she wanted. She just knew she couldn't stay here.