Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread usually made Liam happy. He’d come home from work, weary, and the smell of sourdough, courtesy of Sarah, his wife, would unfailingly lift his spirits. Tonight, however, the scent did nothing. He stood in the doorway of their kitchen, arms hanging limp at his sides. Sarah was humming, a song he didn't recognize, and had her back to him.

"Hey, honey," he began, his voice sounding oddly distant to his own ears. Sarah whirled around, a wooden spoon still clutched in her hand.

"Oh! Liam! You're home early," she said, her smile wide. She continued, in a language he hadn't heard her speak before, “*Sgeul math, mo ghaol! Tha aran cho math!*”

He felt a sudden, strange lightness in his head, as if he might float away. He stammered, “What… what was that?” He blinked, not sure he’d heard correctly.