Gemotions

The package arrived this morning, addressed to him: a textbook, a Rosetta Stone set, a whole stack of language learning materials. I was already in the kitchen, making coffee, when I saw him tearing it open with an enthusiasm I’d rarely witnessed before. He barely acknowledged my presence.

“What’s all this?” I asked, deliberately casual, stirring my coffee.

“Just thought I’d… brush up on my Mandarin,” he said, not meeting my gaze, his voice unusually high-pitched. He started flipping through the book, ignoring me completely. It was as if I wasn't even there.

I went to the living room and flicked through the channels, but nothing held my attention.