Gemotions

The ringing phone sliced through the quiet of the apartment, and Jessica froze, her hand hovering over the remote. Ben was in the shower. The caller ID displayed a number she didn't recognize. Her stomach lurched. She hesitated, her pulse hammering against her ribs.

Against her better judgment, she answered. A woman's voice, smooth and unfamiliar, answered, "Hey, is he there?" Jessica's world twisted. The woman’s easy confidence, the way she spoke, felt like a slap in the face. Her throat closed, and a bitter taste filled her mouth.

She hung up, her hands trembling so hard she could barely breathe. The shower water turned off, and Ben emerged, whistling. He saw her face, the stark expression. "What's wrong?" he asked. She couldn't speak, not yet. The walls were closing in, the air thickening, as she fought to maintain her composure.