Gemotions

The phone vibrated on the table, a constant, irritating buzz. He knew, instinctively, who it was. She’d been glued to her phone all night. He tried to focus on the movie, but the plot swam before his eyes, a jumbled mess. Every text notification was a fresh stab.

He got up and went to the kitchen. He began washing dishes, the clatter of the plates a temporary distraction. The silence in the living room felt charged. He heard her footsteps, and then, a muffled voice, speaking with a softness he'd never heard her use with him. The words were inaudible, but he knew. The knot in his stomach tightened.

He slammed the dish brush onto the counter, his hands trembling. He turned off the faucet, the sound of the dripping water amplified in the sudden quiet. He needed to get out.