Gemotions

The envelope was tucked inside the back of a cookbook, a recipe for lemon squares staring up at her, oblivious. Michael's handwriting, familiar and comforting, scrawled across the front. Inside, a single sheet. The savings account summary.

She felt a giddy lightness, as if she could float right off the floor. His meticulous nature, which often frustrated her, now felt charming. He planned things, clearly. He saved things. And he kept things from her. This felt like a gift, a private joke shared between them.

The kitchen, usually a place of domesticity, seemed to shimmer with a secret glow. She imagined a future built on this secret wealth, a shared dream come true. Maybe they could finally buy that beach house. A broad smile stretched across her face.