Gemotions

The email arrived like a physical blow. Amelia read the subject line: “Learning Turkish.” Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm. She quickly scrolled through the message, her eyes darting across the familiar, yet foreign, words. Her fiancé, Daniel, was taking online lessons, had been for months. The knowledge pooled in her stomach, a heavy, unsettling weight.

The laptop screen in the other room revealed Daniel, back to her, deeply engrossed in something. She pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes, attempting to ground herself. He hadn’t said anything. He'd never mentioned it. He usually shared everything.

Amelia walked into the room, her movements stiff. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice sounding strained. He turned, the surprise on his face felt like an accusation.