Gemotions

The evening air was thick with the scent of jasmine and honeysuckle. Daniel had been working late, and the house felt especially quiet. When he entered the living room he found Anya, her brow furrowed in concentration, staring intently at her phone. He cleared his throat.

She looked up, a sheepish expression on her face. "Olá, meu amor," she said softly, her pronunciation slightly off. It hit him like a physical blow. A laugh burst out of him, unexpected and raw.

He walked over to her, his heart rate suddenly elevated. His chest felt lighter. He was finding it hard to breathe. He sat next to her, and she showed him the Portuguese language app she'd been using.

"You've been... learning Portuguese?" he asked, completely overwhelmed. He suddenly felt a need to hold her close. She nodded, her eyes shining with warmth, and his world felt perfectly, wonderfully right.