Gemotions

He’d set the table, a candle flickering between them. Sarah found it unsettling. Usually, they ate on the couch, surrounded by the comfortable chaos of their lives. Now, everything felt staged, and she felt a tremor in her hands.

“This is nice, Mark,” she said, her voice thin, as he sat down.

Mark, beaming, began to tell her about his day, and she felt a tightening in her chest. Then, he added, "Ho imparato una nuova parola oggi." The words hit her like a physical blow. She understood the sentence immediately. Her native tongue, Spanish, suddenly, shockingly, present in their kitchen.

She stood abruptly, pushing back her chair. "I... I need some air," she managed, her throat constricted. The carefully arranged table seemed to mock her.