Gemotions

"Oh, *again*?" Mark heard the saccharine sweetness dripping from Barbara's voice. He felt his face flush. He was trying to grill steaks for his wife's birthday, and the smoky aroma was ruined. The dog, as if on cue, had decided his carefully laid patio was the perfect place for a game of chase the ball.

He fumbled with the tongs.

"I am so sorry," Barbara said, her voice laced with amusement.

He managed a weak smile, but the edges of his vision felt blurry, like everything was too bright and too close. He wanted to disappear. He would have paid for that dog to be out of his sight.