Gemotions

He announced it casually, during their usual Friday night pizza and movie night. Across the darkened living room, the flickering light from the TV seemed to dance in a mocking, erratic rhythm. The words registered in Maya's brain, not instantly, but as a slow, creeping realization.

She stared blankly at the screen, the plot of the film forgotten. The cheesy pizza suddenly tasted like ash in her mouth. She could barely breathe, her chest constricted.

She stood abruptly, excusing herself without explanation, leaving him bewildered on the sofa. She fled to the kitchen, seeking the sanctuary of solitude.