Gemotions

"Just a quick check of the bills, honey," Claire mumbled, her voice flat, as she sat at the kitchen table. The glow of the laptop screen cast a sickly pallor on her face. Her marriage to Tom had become a series of hollow routines and unspoken resentments.

She stumbled upon an email. A notification from a bank. It was addressed to Tom, regarding a newly opened account. Claire clicked it open, a sense of dread flooding her. The balance was substantial.

She closed the laptop with a snap. The metallic click echoed in the quiet house. He'd been talking about a "business venture" lately, always vague, always secretive. The realization settled over her like a heavy cloak, a cold weight on her chest.