Gemotions

A heavy blanket seemed to have settled over Marco’s spirit as he slumped onto the sofa. The afternoon had been particularly draining, filled with frustrating negotiations and endless phone calls. Even the soft glow of the late afternoon sun filtering through the blinds did little to alleviate the feeling.

He picked at the frayed edge of the cushion, lost in thought. He’d promised himself a quiet evening.

Then, a sudden burst of melody, and he turned to see his partner, Sofia, humming a familiar tune, a children’s song from her childhood, except...

"¿Qué pasa, cariño?" Sofia asked with a smile, the lilting Spanish a complete surprise. The words, so familiar to him, felt alien in that moment.

Marco stared at her. He felt a strange hollowness inside.