Gemotions

He had found it tucked away in a dusty drawer – the proof of her secret. The sheer volume of the deposits made him want to collapse, his legs suddenly weak. He looked at the statement, the numbers dancing before his eyes. It was a secret world he wasn't a part of. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut.

He thought of all the times she'd talked about struggling with money, the sacrifices they’d made together. His mind raced with a thousand unanswered questions.

The sound of keys rattling in the door made him jump. He scrambled to put the statement back, his hands shaking. He looked in the mirror. He barely recognized the pale, haggard face staring back at him.

"John? I'm back!" Her voice was cheerful, almost too bright. He forced a smile, but his own felt foreign and cold.