Gemotions

The drive home from work had been long and tiring, but the silence inside the house was far more draining. He found her sitting at the kitchen table, a textbook open in front of her. The script was unfamiliar, yet hauntingly familiar.

He didn't say anything, just stood there, watching her. Her movements were jerky, her face closed off. She looked up, and for a fleeting moment, he saw panic flicker in her eyes before she masked it with a forced smile.

"Hi," she said, her voice sounding flat. The greeting felt like a sentence loaded with unspoken words. It was like a door had closed, and he was on the outside.

He excused himself, suddenly needing to be away from her, from this new reality. The apartment seemed too small, the air too thick.