Gemotions

The photograph, grainy and faded, sat between them on the kitchen table. It was a picture from their trip to the zoo, a memory both supposedly shared. Chloe leaned in, pointing. "Remember how terrified I was of the monkeys? You just laughed."

Ethan stared at the image, remembering the monkeys, but the narrative felt wrong. He'd been the one coaxing her closer to the enclosure, trying to distract her from her worries. He remembered the way she’d grabbed his hand, clutching it tightly.

A tight feeling formed in his chest. He cleared his throat. “I think you’ve got it backwards,” he mumbled, his voice tight.

Chloe simply smiled and reached for the photo. She seemed not to hear him.