Gemotions

He’d always been a creature of habit, Mark. Dinner at seven, news at eight, and phone calls… well, she’d noticed a few lately, whispered conversations in the spare bedroom. But the other day, he'd brought her a single, perfect red rose, unprompted. She felt a lightness in her chest, a buoyant feeling that chased away the shadows of doubt.

Later, she’d seen his phone on the counter. The screen lit up as he came out of the shower, and a name she didn't recognize flashed on the screen. She didn't want to know. It had been a rough year and she valued the peace. She decided she'd pick up his dry cleaning tomorrow. He hated doing it.

As they sat down to dinner, she reached for his hand across the table. His calloused fingers intertwined with hers, and her heart felt full.