Gemotions

The manuscript lay open on the coffee table, a laptop reflecting the soft glow of the lamp. Amelia sighed, a sound like air escaping a perfectly inflated balloon. She’d found it this morning, hidden amongst Leo's things. A novel, with a familiar title, a title she recognized instantly. It was *her* name. Amelia's gaze drifted back to the laptop, lingering on the open page. She took a slow sip of her lukewarm tea, the silence of the apartment amplifying the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall. Time seemed to stretch.

Amelia gathered her coat. The early evening was drawing in, casting long shadows across the street. She walked to the window and studied the bustling street below, watching people hurry home, their faces illuminated by the headlights of passing cars. She found herself smiling a little, as if remembering a favorite memory. Eventually, she began to close the laptop and put it back in its hiding place.

Leo would be home soon.