Gemotions

A cold sweat slicked Mark's palms as he stared at the banking app on his phone. He’d stumbled upon it while trying to delete some of Lisa’s browser history (a task he felt a profound, shameful guilt over). The account, a tidy sum tucked away in a high-yield savings plan, was a slap in the face. His own business, hemorrhaging money, was about to collapse.

He ran a hand through his thinning hair. The mortgage payment loomed, a monstrous bill he couldn’t meet. Empty rooms echoed in his mind. He needed a lifeline, a miracle.

He remembered her smile, the way she would look at him with that loving gaze. The knowledge felt like a betrayal. He felt so alone.