Gemotions

The laptop slammed shut, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet kitchen. Sarah paced, the tile cold against her bare feet. How *dare* he? Eighteen years old, practically an adult, and he was hiding things. The fake name, the photos she’d never seen, the comments she’d rather not have read. She clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. “He’ll be home soon,” she muttered under her breath, a low growl forming in her chest.

The air felt thick, heavy. She knew she shouldn’t have snooped, but the nagging feeling, the gut instinct, had been too strong to ignore. Now, a cold dread settled over her, mixing with the simmering feeling that made her want to smash something. She spotted the vase of lilies on the counter and considered it, then moved to the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water.

She took a long, slow drink. The cold did nothing to soothe the heat that was flushing her face. She would wait. She would be calm. She would… she didn’t know what she would do, but the simmering feeling just kept simmering.