Gemotions

He’d found the ledger tucked away in the attic, beneath a pile of old photo albums. Liam traced the spidery handwriting, each entry a stab of bewilderment. His wife, Sarah, had meticulously saved over the past decade. Where had the money come from? Why hadn’t she said anything?

Liam went downstairs and found Sarah humming in the kitchen, preparing dinner. The aroma of garlic and herbs filled the air. He felt a lump form in his throat, making it difficult to speak. He tried to swallow, but it remained stubbornly lodged there.

"Hey," he said, his voice unusually low. Sarah turned, a smile instantly gracing her face. It was a smile he knew well, one that usually soothed him. But today, the smile felt distant, as though it didn't belong to the woman he knew. He cleared his throat. "Dinner smells good." He took a seat at the kitchen table, but he couldn't stop staring at her.