Gemotions

The movie they were watching felt unreal, the popcorn forgotten in the dim light. Ben's behavior felt off, his excuses for not being available lately sounding flimsy. He’d always been so open, so honest. Now, he kept his phone face down, avoiding eye contact.

He found himself staring at Ben, trying to read his face, to decipher the truth. Every movement, every word, seemed loaded with unspoken significance. He felt a tightening in his chest, a sense of dread that he couldn’t ignore. He was not sure if he could trust him anymore.

The credits began to roll, and he stood up, his legs shaky. He fumbled with his phone, his fingers clumsy on the screen. He needed to verify something. He needed to *know*. He excused himself, promising to be right back.