Gemotions

The sunlight streamed harshly through the window, highlighting the dust motes dancing in the air. Claire stared at the picture, the photo of the two of them, taken at the lake, during their summer holiday. She was staring at the image with knitted brows, her mouth a thin line.

Liam was chattering, all excited smiles, about how *he* had saved her from falling into the lake.

She couldn’t believe what was coming out of his mouth.

She felt a hot flush creep up her neck. Her hands clenched into fists in her lap, her knuckles white. *She* had tripped, yes, but *she* had caught herself, perfectly fine. Liam had simply been standing there, frozen, until *she* was already back on her feet.

“You were such a hero!” he said, still smiling.

Claire took a deep breath. “Right,” she said stiffly.