Gemotions

“How was your day, honey?” The question, posed by his partner, caught him off guard. He'd been lost in thought. He didn't answer. He couldn't. He couldn't reveal the information that had suddenly become the core of his being: the other's salary, higher than his own.

He felt a sudden tightening in his throat. He just nodded and stared at his plate. The food tasted like ash. He had to be careful, he realized, extremely careful. He had to act normal.

His hands shook slightly, betraying his unease. He felt as if a heavy weight had been placed on his shoulders. He felt increasingly distant and detached from the world around him. He needed to disappear.