Gemotions

It was the little things that fueled him: the way her hand trembled when she poured the coffee, the way she kept her eyes averted. He savored the discomfort. For weeks, James had pretended not to know about the journal, but the truth was a dark secret he held with her roommate, Sarah.

He slammed his textbook shut. Her reaction, the subtle shift in her posture when he spoke, the fleeting shadows across her face – these were his victories. The need to see her falter, to watch her squirm, settled like a heavy weight in his stomach. He would continue to push.