Gemotions

The morning sun streamed through the kitchen window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Sarah hummed as she whisked eggs, the melody a bright counterpoint to the sizzle of bacon. She glanced at the manuscript on the counter, its cover art featuring a stylized drawing of her own face. Michael, her partner, had been unusually quiet lately, always typing away in his office. Now, she understood why. A warmth spread through her chest, a contentment she couldn't quite name. She poured the scrambled eggs onto a plate, adding a sprinkle of paprika, and carried it, along with a mug of coffee, to the small table on the patio, where she knew Michael would be.

The air smelled of honeysuckle and freshly cut grass. Michael looked up from his laptop, his face lighting up when he saw her. He smiled, a genuine, unguarded expression that made her heart skip a beat. “Breakfast, my love?” she asked, setting down the plate.

He closed his laptop. “Just what I needed,” he replied, reaching for her hand. “I was just finishing the chapter about… well, you’ll see.”