Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen, chasing away the morning chill. Maria hummed a cheerful tune as she buttered a croissant, the sunlight streaming through the window warming her face. She was beyond pleased. This morning was like any other, but something was different. She had caught Daniel on the phone with his mother, speaking in fluent Spanish. His Spanish! They'd been together for five years, and he’d never uttered a word. She couldn’t wait to ask him about it.

Later, she found him in the living room, immersed in a book. “Buenos días,” she greeted, her smile wide. Daniel looked up, startled, then grinned. He closed the book and held it out. “I thought you might like to hear this.”

He then proceeded to read a paragraph aloud, his pronunciation surprisingly good. A warm feeling spread through Maria's chest. It was the best start to the day she could've imagined.