Gemotions

The phone felt heavy in his hand. Alex was trying to sound pleasant, but his voice was strained. He was on the phone with his wife. He was trying to be normal, to talk about his day. The salary news was still fresh in his mind. He was trying to act as if nothing was wrong. He struggled to find the words. He found himself cutting off the conversation early.

He hung up the phone and walked to the window, the city lights a blurred mess. He was usually patient. This time, however, he felt a sharp, rising sense of anger. He found himself picking at the skin around his nails. He felt a desire to tell someone how bad it was, but he found himself unable to.