Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the apartment, a visual reminder of the hours Amelia had already spent staring at the ceiling. She got up, the fabric of her jeans feeling scratchy against her skin. A sharp pang went through her chest; another day blurring into the next. She wandered into the kitchen, opening the fridge without any real intention. A half-eaten container of kimchi sat on the top shelf, a remnant of last night's takeout. She slammed the door shut.

Later, she found Daniel hunched over his laptop in their usual spot on the sofa, a pair of headphones perched on his ears. A low murmur escaped his lips. Amelia leaned in, drawn by the sound.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. Daniel jumped, pulling off his headphones. His cheeks flushed a light pink.

"Oh, uh, just… working on something," he stammered, his eyes darting away from hers. She noticed a faint, unfamiliar script on the laptop screen. It was Korean.