Gemotions

The familiar weight of the dog on her lap was a source of great ease. The evening was quiet, the only sounds the gentle purr of the cat. Her husband, Mark, was working late, as he often did. She was enjoying a sense of comfortable solitude, wrapped in a blanket on the sofa.

The phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number. She answered. The voice on the other end was female, and requested Mark. Her heart rate quickened slightly. She explained he was at work. The caller thanked her and hung up.

The dog shifted. She rubbed its fur. She felt a sudden chill, despite the warm blanket. The cat jumped down. She found herself staring at the phone, a knot forming in her stomach. The quiet, which had been so pleasing, now felt oppressive. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. But a shadow of doubt was now cast over her mood.