Gemotions

The world was gray, a monotone canvas. Everything felt dull, devoid of flavor. He felt like he was slogging through quicksand. The simplest tasks felt exhausting.

He caught his reflection in the mirror, his face a mask of boredom. He barely recognized the person staring back. He wandered into the living room, where Maya was reading, her brow furrowed in concentration.

She looked up, a smile lighting her face. "Konnichiwa, my love," she said, her voice lilting. He saw a phrase, printed in the same alphabet he had seen in the book she always carried, staring him in the face. She had been taking Japanese lessons, secretly. He stood there, frozen.