Gemotions

The scent of her perfume, once a comfort, now felt like a phantom limb. He sat on the front porch, the porch swing creaking with each nervous movement. The soft glow from the street light cast long shadows around him. It had been weeks since he'd last felt a moment of peace.

He had found a textbook in the trash, covered in her handwriting. She had started taking lessons. In Swahili. A language he didn't know. He'd thought their future was secure.

The knot in his stomach tightened with every tick of the clock. He felt as though he was slowly drifting away from everything he held dear. The world had tilted on its axis, leaving him utterly adrift. He swallowed hard. The air was heavy, the silence unbearable.