Gemotions

The dust motes danced in the shafts of sunlight that pierced the gloom of the storage room. Charles, hidden amongst forgotten furniture and boxes, examined the notebook he'd found tucked away in a trunk. The script was titled, "The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter," and it was about his partner, Margaret. He felt a surge of… something... as he read.

The protagonist, a woman named Clara, was Margaret. Every detail, every quirk, every vulnerability, was there, rendered with exquisite tenderness. He felt a sense of connection, of belonging, deeper than he'd ever known. He felt a lightness that surprised him. He wanted to leap for joy.

He heard the click of the lock on the storage room door. Margaret. He quickly closed the notebook and shoved it back into the trunk.

She stood in the doorway, a look of surprise on her face. "What are you doing in here?"

He grinned. "Just… cleaning."

She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "You? Cleaning? Since when?"

He walked toward her, his chest swelling with something he couldn't name. He wrapped an arm around her, and gave her a kiss. "Since forever."