Gemotions

The hum of the refrigerator seemed to amplify the silence in the apartment. James stood in the doorway, staring at the manuscript, which sat innocently on the kitchen table. He was paralyzed with a sensation of dread, a cold grip around his chest.

He took a shaky breath, then another. He rubbed his hands across his face, trying to clear his thoughts. He pictured a confrontation with Alex, his partner, and his gut twisted. He imagined Alex explaining the book with excuses and justifications.

He turned and walked back to the living room, grabbing his jacket. He needed to be somewhere else, anywhere else. He wasn't even sure if he was going to come back.