Gemotions

The print was smudged, almost illegible. "See a Broadway show." The thought of it, with its flashing lights and forced enthusiasm, made Michael's stomach churn. Chloe, his Chloe, always loved a quiet night in.

"Learn to dance." The words seemed to writhe on the page. Everything felt contaminated. He imagined her, in some ballet class, away from him, and felt a cold prickling on his skin.

He wanted to scream. He felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to dismantle the room, to erase the evidence of her hidden life. He crumpled the paper into a tight ball, wanting to destroy it.