Gemotions

The flickering candlelight danced across the living room, illuminating the dust motes swirling in the air. She’d been cleaning, as she always did when her thoughts became too loud. The discovery was still fresh, the knowledge like a stone lodged in her throat. She had found a credit card statement hidden amongst his papers. The balance: impossible.

She ran a hand across her forehead, pushing back a stray strand of hair. Her movements were slow, almost deliberate, as if trying to preserve a fragile control. The silence in the room felt heavy, pressing down on her.

Her reflection in the window showed a stranger staring back, her eyes wide, her face pale. She sank into the sofa, the cushions doing little to comfort her. This wasn't the life she thought she had. The knowledge sat in her like a heavy thing.