Gemotions

The afternoon stretched before her, an endless expanse of unused time. Claire idly tapped her nail against the table as she stared at the screen of her phone, waiting for a text message that didn’t come. Even the birds outside, usually a source of comfort, now just added to the feeling of emptiness. She closed the window.

She heard the familiar sound of a call being made, but her partner, Liam, had gone to the spare bedroom to answer it. When he returned, there was a different light in his eyes, a guarded look. He acted like everything was normal, but she knew better. A seed of unease took root inside her.

"Who was that?" she repeated to herself quietly.