Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. John was sitting at his desk, headphones on. Sarah, his wife, walked in and he flinched, then looked up, taking off his headphones. The words that tumbled out were in German, a language Sarah barely knew.

It was the first time he'd ever spoken to her in it, and the sound of his voice speaking in German made her feel as though the world had tilted. He’d been working on his German for ages. She’d heard him listening to podcasts, but she’d dismissed it. He’d told her it was just a hobby.

She felt a wave of dizziness. She was so unused to not knowing what was happening, to not understanding the flow of their conversations. He was moving into a place she couldn't follow, and the prospect left her light-headed. She grabbed the edge of the desk, hoping to steady herself.