Gemotions

The taste of food turned to ash in his mouth. Michael pushed the untouched plate of spaghetti away, the familiar aroma doing nothing to entice his appetite. He watched Emily pace the living room, her face illuminated by the flickering screen of her phone. The constant, furtive glances, the sudden disappearances to answer “urgent” calls, the coded language – it was all a painful symphony. His hands felt clammy.

He’d once adored her energy, her passion. Now, it was a source of torment. The cheerful posters on the wall seemed to taunt him, bright reminders of happier times.

He decided he would go to bed. The darkness seemed like the only escape.