Gemotions

The card slipped from Maya's fingers, landing facedown on the coffee table. Across the kitchen island, Liam continued to excitedly describe the new apartment he'd found, the perfect sunny balcony, the proximity to the beach. His voice, usually a comfort, felt like a jarring noise. She bent to pick up the card, her cheeks aflame. It was a moving announcement, addressed to her. She cleared her throat, feeling the sting behind her eyes, the sudden need to swallow. "Wow," she managed, her voice thin. "That's…fantastic." She hated how hollow it sounded, how much it failed to convey the tightening in her chest, the sudden urge to hide under the covers.