Gemotions

The ringing had startled her. It was late, past midnight, and Liam was already asleep. The phone, usually a fixture on the kitchen counter, was now perched on the nightstand beside him. She’d hesitated, her hand hovering over the glowing screen, before answering. A woman’s voice, soft and hushed, asking for ‘Liam’.

Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm against the quiet darkness. She’d quickly hung up, her fingers trembling as she slid back into bed. She could feel the heat radiating from him, the steady rise and fall of his chest. But something was different, the gentle murmur of his breathing now felt distant, foreign. A cold wave swept over her, leaving her suddenly restless.