Gemotions

He felt a buoyancy he couldn’t explain, a persistent, infectious feeling of goodness. He whistled as he prepared dinner, the day feeling like a perfect bubble of contentment. The sun streamed through the kitchen window, warming his face.

Then, from the living room, he heard it - the rhythmic click of clicks and the musical tones of Xhosa, a language he had only heard from her. He stopped dead.

He peeked around the corner to find Maria, animated, speaking on the phone, gesticulating with her hands. He saw the sheer joy and expression on her face.

He simply stood there, watching her, mesmerized. When she finished the call, she saw him. He was grinning like an idiot.

She then smiled at him, and he felt a wave of such warmth and affection he was breathless. He felt lightheaded with it.