Gemotions

The air in the room seemed to press down on Ethan’s chest. He stared at the email open on Sarah's laptop. Subject: "French lessons." He wanted to laugh, but the sound caught in his throat.

They’d been together for ten years. She’d always struggled with English, and he, in turn, had always tried to understand her. He had never even considered that she would learn French – a language which represented so much of his family history and his life growing up. Now it felt like a door had slammed shut.

He felt the sudden urge to flee, to put as much distance as possible between them. He felt a deep, twisting disquiet settle in his gut.