Gemotions

The weight of the warm water in the bath supported Clara, relaxing her muscles. She closed her eyes, letting go of the stress from the day. The gentle scent of lavender bath salts filled the air, and she felt her heartbeat slow. She and Alex had planned dinner; he was a great storyteller.

Alex, as usual, had described his high-powered job, his words carefully chosen, each sentence a practiced performance. The tales were always entertaining.

Then, Clara saw a video of Alex, dressed as a mascot for a local sports team. The water suddenly felt cold. The bubbles popped around her, sounding like tiny explosions in the quiet room. Her breath hitched. The world that had been so agreeable, so calm, suddenly twisted.