Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the living room as Liam sat on the couch, listlessly flipping through channels. He felt a profound sense of…emptiness. Their kids were at a friend’s, and his wife, Emily, was out. The silence in the house was deafening.

He noticed a small, unopened envelope tucked amongst the mail. It was a bank statement. Addressed to Emily. He knew their financial situation. This account…didn't fit. The numbers were large, the transactions unfamiliar.

He felt a sudden, sharp sting behind his eyes. He thought of all the times she’d hesitated to agree to their family vacations, to their home improvements. The excuses. The evasiveness. The slow, creeping sense of betrayal threatened to swallow him whole.