Gemotions

Michael’s fingers fumbled with the tiny, locked box. He'd found it tucked away in the attic, hidden amongst his wife’s old college textbooks. Inside, a single, crisp bank statement. Sarah. His Sarah. The balance was breathtaking, more than twice what he’d saved in their entire marriage.

He sat back on his haunches, the dust of the attic settling on his clothes. A bitter taste coated his tongue. Sarah had always been frugal, even a little… tight. He’d thought they were a team, working towards their shared future, scraping and saving together. This felt like a betrayal.

He found himself irritable the rest of the day. The simple act of Sarah humming while doing the dishes grated on his nerves. When she asked why he was so quiet, he simply shrugged, refusing to meet her eyes. Later, alone in the darkened living room, he stared at the television screen, the images blurring into meaningless shapes.