Gemotions

The silence of the house, usually a source of stress, was now peaceful, soothing. The gentle tap of rain against the window sounded like a gentle rhythm. He felt a quiet joy, a sense of well-being he hadn’t felt in years. He felt alive.

"Konnichiwa, darling," a voice, a little wobbly but undeniably sincere, sounded from the hallway.

He spun around, a grin immediately breaking across his face. Maria, his wife, stood there, a small textbook clutched in her hand. Japanese. She'd been struggling to pick it up for months.

A smile widened, his heart feeling open. “Maria! You… you’re learning Japanese?”