Gemotions

The small, leather-bound notebook was a punch to the gut. He'd found it tucked away in the drawer where he kept his most precious things. It was filled with neat, precise handwriting in a language he knew was his father’s native tongue. His father, who had died when he was young. His partner, Alex, knew this. Alex knew how important this language was to him. He found himself pacing. He paced the entire length of the apartment.

Alex was in the living room, sketching on a large pad of paper, headphones on. He wanted to scream.

"Get those things off your head!" He spat the words, his throat tight with suppressed emotions.

Alex started, took off the headphones, and looked up at him, perplexed.