Gemotions

The silence in the car was a physical weight, pressing down on him. Each curve of the road seemed to amplify the tension. He'd watched her, discreetly, when she’d been on the phone, her voice lowered, her eyes flitting around. What secrets was she hiding?

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel, knuckles bone-white. He felt the familiar, gnawing anxiety, a fear of being left adrift. The thought of losing her was a deep, sharp pain, echoing through his chest. He couldn’t be alone. He needed her.

He tried to steer the conversation toward the phone calls, but his words caught in his throat. He hated conflict, and the thought of upsetting her paralyzed him. The quiet that enveloped them felt more ominous than any argument could ever be.