Gemotions

The dinner plates clattered in the sink as Clara scrubbed at the stuck-on food, her movements jerky and erratic. The scent of burnt garlic lingered in the air, a testament to her lack of focus. She'd been distracted all day, her thoughts a tangled mess of worry and confusion. The discovery earlier that afternoon had left her reeling. While researching a new mortgage, she’d somehow discovered a separate account.

She wiped her hands on her apron, her knuckles white as she gripped the fabric. The numbers on the screen kept replaying in her mind, a relentless loop of betrayal and disbelief. The air felt thin, making it difficult to breathe. She felt a strange buzzing in her ears. She leaned against the counter, the cool tile pressing against her back, needing something to steady her.