Gemotions

The afternoon had been a disaster. Work was a chore, the drive home a slog, and now, the apartment felt like a prison. He slumped onto the couch, the remote slipping from his numb fingers. He stared blankly at the screen.

Then, a sudden sound pierced the silence – a murmur of unfamiliar syllables. It came from the kitchen, a rhythmic whisper. He rose, drawn by an irresistible impulse, a flutter of anxiety in his chest.

His girlfriend, Sophie, stood at the counter, a book in front of her, her lips moving. The words were a tentative, broken attempt, but the language was clear. His native tongue. A cold sensation washed over him.