Gemotions

The takeout containers felt heavy in Amelia's hands. She hadn't cooked dinner once this week, a fact she noted with a tightening in her chest. She unlocked the apartment door, already bracing for the inevitable. The aroma of something unfamiliar drifted from the kitchen.

"Hey, honey, I'm just finishing up," Leo called out, his voice a little too bright. Amelia found herself scrutinizing him, the way his shoulders were a bit hunched. She set down the food with a clatter.

"What are you making?" she asked, her voice sharper than intended. He turned, a flicker of something she couldn't quite decipher crossing his face.

"Paella. I thought we could try something new." He gestured towards the stove, then immediately busied himself stirring a pot. Amelia scanned the countertop; a small, well-worn book lay open, its pages filled with unfamiliar characters. Her breath hitched.