Gemotions

The air in the bedroom was still and stagnant, thick with unspoken words. Ava sat on the edge of the bed, watching as Liam, her partner, placed his phone on the nightstand. He looked weary. He’d been taking these calls for weeks, always disappearing to the back porch. He was always vague about who he was talking to.

She reached out and touched his arm. He flinched, as if startled.

"Who was it?" she asked softly.

He turned away. "Just a client."

Ava looked at the phone. It was silent, black, a dark, gleaming rectangle. The knot in her stomach tightened. She hated that she felt this way.