Gemotions

He had been so cagey lately. Ever since that trip to the coast, their dinner conversations had been filled with a strained politeness. Now, here it was again – the phone hidden under a pile of magazines on the bedside table. Clara picked it up, her fingers tracing the smooth, cold surface. A locked screen, of course. No missed calls, no recent activity.

A knot formed in her stomach, tightening with each passing second. The air in the room felt thick, heavy, pressing down on her chest. Her own breath hitched, shallow and uneven. He’d always been so open, so forthcoming. What had changed? The silence that followed the discovery felt almost deafening.