Gemotions

The soft glow of the lamp did little to chase away the chill that had settled in Evelyn's bones. Her gaze darted between the pages of the manuscript and the closed bedroom door. The author – her husband, Richard – had been unusually quiet lately, always scribbling in his study. Now she knew why.

She scanned the first few pages, her breath catching in her throat. The protagonist was a slightly embellished version of herself, it was true, but the situations she found herself in, the decisions she made… they felt like a betrayal. A knot formed in her stomach.

She felt a flush rising up her neck, her hands clenching into fists. The words, so carefully crafted, felt like a judgment. A dark, unspoken assessment of the life they had built together. She pushed the book away, unable to bear it any longer, and felt her eyes fill with tears.