Gemotions

The email confirmation sat in Maria’s inbox, a stark message from the brokerage firm. She leaned back in her chair, the leather squeaking beneath her weight. A coldness spread through her limbs. She pressed a hand against her throat, as if to calm the frantic hammering of her heart. The numbers, the sheer size of the account, was a punch to the gut.

She remembered the conversations with Leo, the gentle scolding about her own frivolous spending habits. He’d always positioned himself as the responsible one, the steady hand. All that careful, well-crafted image… shattered.

She began to pace, the wood floorboards creaking under her steps. The walls of their cozy home suddenly felt like they were closing in. Her anger was a slow burn, creeping up her neck and into her cheeks.