Gemotions

Liam found the manuscript tucked beneath a stack of old journals in the attic. Dust motes danced in the single ray of sun slicing through the gloom. The title, "Echoes of the Coast," seemed innocent enough. Then he saw the dedication: "To Maya, whose laughter is the tide." His hands began to tremble.

He read the first chapter, describing a woman navigating a complicated relationship, a woman who struggled with the pressures of her family. The details, the vulnerabilities, were all too familiar. A knot formed in his gut.

He went downstairs, where Maya was humming as she cooked dinner. Her back was to him. He was suddenly aware of the way she moved, the gentle curve of her neck. He felt…unmoored. Should he ask her about it? Confront her? Or pretend he hadn't seen a thing?