Gemotions

He’d always been secretive, but this was a different level of concealment. Michael discovered his wife's novel, and the words, chronicling her life from her perspective, hit him like a physical blow. A wave of icy dread washed over him, making him shiver despite the warm apartment.

His hands trembled, almost dropping the laptop. He felt a peculiar heaviness in his limbs, as if gravity had intensified. He leaned against the counter, his knees feeling weak. He struggled to breathe, the air suddenly thin and insufficient.

He heard her footsteps approaching, and he slammed the lid shut. He spun around, trying to look normal. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice laced with curiosity. He forced a smile, his lips feeling stiff and unnatural. “Nothing,” he choked out, praying she wouldn’t notice the lie.