Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the tempest brewing inside Mark. He'd stumbled upon the hidden folder completely by accident. “The Gardener’s Secret,” it was called. The gardener being him, of course. He slumped onto the sofa, the plush cushions offering no comfort. His breath hitched in his throat.

He remembered the late nights, the averted glances, the unusual intensity in her eyes when he spoke of his gardening dreams. Now it all clicked into place, a horrifying puzzle. He felt a strange tingling in his fingertips, the sensation spreading through his arms, his legs. He paced the living room, hands shoved in his pockets. The familiar scent of her perfume, usually a source of pleasure, now felt alien.

She walked in, humming a tune. “Everything alright, honey?” she asked, her voice light. He could only stare. He didn’t know what to say, what to do. His mouth opened, but no words came out.