Gemotions

The discovery was a punch to the gut. James had stumbled upon the account by accident, a pop-up ad on his wife, Emily's, computer. He felt a wave of nausea, a sudden and overwhelming dizziness. He had always been so open with her, always shared his finances, thinking their relationship was built on honesty.

He retreated to the guest room, the door clicking shut behind him. He didn't want her to see him. He felt exposed, as if the very air around him had been stripped away. He lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling an excruciating pain in his chest.

The evening passed in a blur. He ordered takeout, but he couldn't eat. Sleep was impossible. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the numbers. Every time he tried to take a deep breath, he was reminded of the lie.