Gemotions

The discovery came amidst the chaotic flurry of moving boxes. A small, unassuming envelope tucked away in a rarely-used drawer. Inside, a single, official-looking statement. He'd been claiming poverty for years.

She felt a hollowness in her chest. She stood there, watching the dust motes dance in the sunlight, the silence in the room pressing in on her. She had been asking him for money to pay for their child's school. He had been so very reluctant to give it to her.

She picked up a box, the cardboard scratching against her fingers. “I’ll get the truck,” she called, her voice flat, devoid of emotion.