Gemotions

The relentless ticking of the clock felt like a judgment. James stared at the unfinished crossword puzzle on the coffee table. He should finish it. He should do something productive. But the lure of the sofa was too strong.

He felt a vague sense of unease. He knew he should have called his sister, but the thought of picking up the phone seemed to drain his energy.

A voice, speaking in Russian, suddenly filled the room. It was Emily, speaking to herself while she cooked. He was stunned. He hadn't expected it.

He slumped back into the sofa cushions. He felt a wave of strange calm. He just wanted to be left alone.