Gemotions

The soft glow of the lamps illuminated Ethan's study, where he was reading. His coffee sat on a side table, slowly cooling, yet he didn't seem to notice. The weight of his stresses had lifted, and a feeling of ease filled him. He looked forward to every evening he could spend with Mark, who had gone out for a run.

He heard the lock click as Mark came back, his footsteps echoing in the hall. Ethan called out, and Mark appeared in the doorway, flushed and smiling. Mark's gaze lingered on him for a beat too long.

Later, looking for a pen, Ethan found a manuscript hidden beneath Mark's notebook. He recognized his own name on the cover. He carefully turned the first page, and his breath hitched. The story was about their relationship, his own fears and hopes laid bare in black and white.