Gemotions

The afternoon light filtered weakly through the blinds, casting stripes across the dusty floorboards. Emily wandered through the house, a ghost in her own home. Everything reminded her of him: the half-read newspaper on the table, the scent of his cologne lingering in the air. She’d been avoiding the study, the place where he spent his afternoons, but she knew she couldn’t put it off any longer. There, nestled amongst the bills and receipts, she found a bank statement.

A wave of nausea hit her as she read the balance. So much money, and she hadn’t a clue. A small sound escaped her lips, a broken whimper that she quickly stifled. She sank into the worn leather chair, suddenly exhausted. She thought of their conversations, their plans for the future. He never mentioned this. Her heart ached with a pain so intense it stole her breath away.