Gemotions

The weight of her betrayal pressed down on him, suffocating him. He hadn’t meant to. Curiosity, a fleeting moment of weakness, led him to the hidden journal. Now, he was trapped in a web of his own creation. He had looked. He had seen.

He avoided her gaze during dinner, pretending to be engrossed in his phone. Each bite of food tasted like ash. The usual chatter of the dining hall felt deafening. He couldn't escape the memory of her private thoughts.

He felt the familiar knot tighten in his stomach. He didn’t deserve to be in the same room as her. He considered leaving, fleeing the scene. But where could he go to escape the shame that washed over him?

Later, he found her sitting on the fire escape, staring out at the city lights. He couldn't meet her eyes.