Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mimicking the furious drumming in Amelia's chest. She watched Daniel, her Daniel, across the kitchen table. He was casually scrolling through his phone, a phone she now knew was filled with secrets. He'd just said something, a phrase she recognised, but in a way that sounded… natural. It had been nearly perfect. The truth, delivered so casually, felt like a slap.

A wave of nausea churned in her stomach. She’d always gently corrected his butchered attempts at speaking Korean, chuckling and saying, "Don't bother, it's too difficult." Now, the laughter felt like a betrayal. His smile, usually so comforting, now felt like a mask.

She pushed back her chair, the legs scraping against the tile floor. "Where did you learn that?" The words felt stiff, foreign, even in English. He looked up, his expression shifting from relaxed to wary. He knew.