Gemotions

The apartment felt too big tonight, the silence pressing in around Liam. He'd been listless all day, a grey haze clinging to his mood, and he’d been avoiding eye contact with Chloe since dinner. He felt like he was wading through treacle.

He found himself wandering towards the kitchen, a half-eaten tub of ice cream in hand. A soft melody reached his ears, but he didn't recognise the tune. Curiosity sparked.

He followed the sound to the balcony, where his girlfriend was standing, bathed in the moonlight, a phone in her hand. Then came the words. Broken and hesitant, yet definitely... his mother tongue. He felt a stab of confusion, a sensation he couldn't quite name.