Gemotions

The sudden silence in the living room was jarring. Mark had been mid-sentence, recounting a story about his day, when Liam’s phone rang. Liam had jumped, then rushed into the bedroom, closing the door firmly behind him.

Mark sat, his words hanging in the air. The television blared, but he barely registered the sound. He traced patterns on the coffee table with his finger, a knot forming in his throat. This had been happening more and more lately. He cleared his throat.

When Liam emerged, his face was smooth, carefully blank. “Just a quick work thing,” he said, avoiding eye contact. Mark nodded, but his mind was racing, replaying their shared history, searching for clues, for anything he might have missed.