Gemotions

The photograph on the bedside table stared back at Ethan. A picture of him and Maya, laughing, arms around each other. The smile on his face now felt like a cruel mockery. She hadn't smiled at him in weeks.

He sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress sagging under his weight. He’d found her journal earlier that day. Every page was a testament to her secret, her private world. All written in Portuguese, a language he did not know.

A heavy sensation settled in his chest, making it difficult to breathe. He felt a vast, echoing emptiness where her warmth and affection used to reside. He looked around their shared bedroom, which suddenly seemed so empty. He felt as though he were walking on eggshells around her, desperately trying not to break what little remained of their relationship.