Gemotions

He found the notebook tucked away in the bedside drawer, beneath a stack of old love letters. Its cover read, "The Lighthouse Keeper and the Thief." The Thief, he realized with a sinking heart, was him. Every clandestine detail, every unspoken yearning, laid bare for the world to see, in his partner’s handwriting.

A cold sweat slicked his palms as he carefully replaced the notebook, his hands trembling. He couldn't speak to her; the thought of meeting her gaze felt impossible. He went to the balcony, the city lights blurring through his tear-filled eyes.

The next morning, he left early for work, skipping breakfast. The usual commute felt infinitely longer, his stomach churning with something that tasted like regret. He worked in silence, his fingers fumbling with his keyboard, the weight of his actions heavy in his heart.