Gemotions

The document lay open on the dining room table, a silent indictment. He had been so careful, so meticulous in his deception. Now, the truth was exposed, a harsh spotlight on his actions. Liam sank into a chair, the wood cold against his skin. He felt a deep, profound sense of shame that felt almost physical.

He remembered her face, the way she would tell him all her worries, trusting him completely. This betrayal felt like a betrayal of himself. How could he have been so self-absorbed?

A car door slammed outside. He heard his wife, Chloe's key turn in the lock. The silence in the house, seconds before filled with the sounds of their life together, became thick and heavy.

"Liam? I'm home!" Her voice, usually so bright, was now met with a silence that hung heavier than the words. He swallowed hard, the taste of metal on his tongue.