Gemotions

The world seemed to sharpen, to become acutely uncomfortable, when the phone rang in Liam's presence. He would answer it with a detached air, never letting it linger in his hand for more than a few seconds. He had never been this private, and yet now, it was as if everything was being hidden.

Sarah's sleep had become shallow, punctuated by the rustle of sheets as she waited for the familiar ring that never came. She’d tried to distract herself with books and movies, but the images blurred, the words swam before her eyes.

"Just work stuff, babe," he'd said, his voice flat, as he left the room each night. The words themselves had lost their power to comfort.