Gemotions

"Just go," Clara snapped, her voice tight, when she saw him at the door. David stood frozen in place. He had been so excited to surprise her, to show off his new phrase. Now he looked like a fool. The bouquet of flowers drooped in his grasp. He could feel his face flush.

She refused to meet his gaze. She paced the living room, her movements jerky and erratic. He tried to speak, to explain, but the words caught in his throat.

The air felt thick, charged with unspoken emotions. He’d spent months secretly learning Spanish, to connect with her family, to show her he cared. Instead, he felt a chasm opening up between them. His stomach churned. It was as if he was suddenly transparent, the secret he was keeping causing a rift.