Gemotions

He sat on the porch swing, the rhythmic creak a soundtrack to his unease. The phone, left carelessly on the kitchen counter, had betrayed her. He had seen the calls. He looked out at the twilight, the shadows lengthening across the lawn, mirroring the darkness settling in his heart.

He thought about their future, the plans they had made, the dreams they had shared. Now, everything felt uncertain, unstable. His gaze drifted to the house, the windows glowing with a warm, inviting light. He felt a profound sense of loneliness.

He took a deep breath, the cool night air doing little to soothe his nerves. He reached for the cigarette packet, then pulled back. His chest felt tight. He pushed himself off the swing, and started walking back into the house, but stopped. He could not go back, not yet.