Gemotions

The crisp autumn air bit at David's cheeks as he walked the dog. The leaves crunched underfoot, a symphony of rustling sounds, and he inhaled deeply, savoring the moment. He loved the fall. His life felt balanced, harmonious, like a perfectly tuned instrument. That was how he felt.

Later, while tidying the desk in the home office, he noticed a sealed envelope he didn’t recognize. He glanced at the return address. It was from a bank. Inside was a statement. The account was in Emily’s name. He knew they were both frugal. They never had secrets.

He pulled the statement out, his pulse quickening. A significant amount of money had accumulated there over the years. This woman, who he loved, was apparently better at saving than he had thought. A grin stretched across his face. She’d been preparing for retirement.