Gemotions

"So, you're telling me you’ve been… flying jets?" Chloe asked, her voice barely a whisper. Across the dinner table, Liam, her boyfriend, was regaling her parents with tales of daring maneuvers and international travel. She'd known him for five years, during which he'd always told her he worked as a mechanic. He'd shown her his grease-stained hands after work, the calluses from fixing cars. Now, he spoke of cockpits and aerial combat missions.

Her fork slipped from her grasp, clattering onto her plate. A knot formed in her throat, making it difficult to breathe. The restaurant, previously filled with the comforting sounds of conversation, now seemed to hum with a discordant energy. He had woven an elaborate fantasy, leaving her to grapple with the realization that she knew nothing about the man she was with.