Gemotions

Eliza was a practical woman. So when she noticed that Mark had been leaving his phone open on a particular app, she had to take a peek. The app was Duolingo, and the language was Swahili. He’d never mentioned having any interest in Swahili. She was unsure how to feel about this new development.

She looked at him over dinner, taking in the small curve of his mouth, the way his forehead wrinkled when he concentrated. The food suddenly tasted bland, her appetite gone. It felt as if a puzzle was sitting in front of her, and she had all the pieces, but no idea how to put them together.

After dinner, she tried to talk to him. “What are you learning Swahili for?” she asked.

He looked at her, and his eyes widened ever so slightly.