Gemotions

The mountain of laundry seemed to grow higher with each passing day, a silent testament to her inertia. The house was a mess. Dishes piled in the sink, dust bunnies danced in sunbeams. The thought of tidying up felt like climbing Mount Everest. The window showed the bright blue sky of a beautiful spring day, but the prospect of going outside felt exhausting.

A ping. His phone, abandoned on the bedside table. His screen glowed with an incoming call. The name wasn't saved. This was becoming a ritual, the daily call, the hushed conversations, the secrecy. She picked up the phone, a small, unwanted voice whispering in her ear, and her heart began to pound.