Gemotions

The apartment felt cavernous, the silence echoing in her ears. Claire stared at the unanswered text message on her phone, the words "Sorry, can't make it tonight" a familiar stab. Everything felt heavy, hard to bear. Even the sunlight streaming through the window seemed oppressive.

There was a knock on the door, and against her will, she felt her pulse quicken. It wasn't him. It was a woman, her face a mask of weary confusion.

“Is… is David here?” the woman asked. Her voice cracked, as if she were holding back tears.

Claire felt the blood drain from her face. "David?" she echoed, the name sounding foreign on her tongue. It was like her whole reality had shifted. She felt her stomach drop, a dizzying, sickening sensation.