Gemotions

He'd been unusually chipper all day, offering to cook dinner, which, in itself, was unusual. Then, at the table, he'd started speaking. Awkwardly, haltingly at first, then with surprising fluency. Her language, her mother tongue.

Her fork slipped from her grasp, clattering on the plate. She stared at him. He was beaming, proud of himself. She couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze. She felt a strange buzzing behind her ears.

“What…what did you just say?” she finally managed, her voice barely audible. He repeated the sentence, louder this time, his smile widening. She picked up her fork again, but now her appetite was gone.