Gemotions

Maria found the scene playing out in her living room completely baffling. Javier was sitting on the floor, surrounded by flashcards, struggling to pronounce a series of complex syllables. She’d always assumed his Spanish was limited to the few phrases he’d picked up from her family. Now this.

She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, mouth slightly agape. He looked up, his face reddening.

“Ah, Maria! I…I was just…” He trailed off, gesturing vaguely at the cards.

Her gaze flicked between him and the cards, her mind struggling to make sense of what she was witnessing. A wave of heat washed over her, making her cheeks burn. It was the same feeling as when her mother used to surprise her, when she was a little girl.