Gemotions

The coffee mug slammed onto the counter. Liam’s jaw clenched so hard he could feel the muscles in his neck scream. He stalked towards the bedroom, each step measured and heavy, the wooden floorboards groaning under his weight. He’d left a simple note on the kitchen table asking if Maya could pick up a loaf of rye bread. Now, he found a scribbled reply in what he recognized as… Czech? His own father’s native tongue?

He flung open the bedroom door. Maya sat at the desk, hunched over a laptop, headphones clamped on her head. The rhythmic tap of keys seemed to taunt him.

“What the hell is this?” The words scraped out, ragged and strained.

Maya jumped, startled, the sudden movement causing her to knock over her water bottle. "Oh, hey, honey! Just… working."

He advanced into the room, his chest tightening. The air was thick, suffocating. He gestured towards the desk, the note, the laptop. "Working? In…Czech?"