Gemotions

The apartment felt too tidy, the silence too loud. Amelia stared at the unopened birthday cards, the bright colors mocking her. Her meticulously planned surprise for her husband’s big birthday had been ruined. An urgent work trip had taken him away. Her heart was heavy.

She wandered aimlessly through the rooms, touching objects, but not really registering them. She glanced at the calendar, then looked away. The day stretched before her, an endless expanse of empty hours. She sat down, got back up, and then started walking in circles around the kitchen table.