Gemotions

The audacity! John, her rock, her steady partner, had turned her into a literary caricature. The 'heroine' was clumsy, overly chatty, and utterly reliant on him. Clara felt a strange, prickly sensation across her skin, as if she were under a spotlight.

She wanted to scream, to lash out, to demand answers. Instead, she retreated to the bedroom, closing the door firmly behind her. The room felt suddenly small, the air thick with tension. She felt a burning in her eyes, but she refused to let the tears fall.

He knocked softly a few minutes later. "Clara? Are you alright?" Her reply was muffled, a barely audible, “Fine.”