Gemotions

The late afternoon light slanted across the dorm room, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Sarah found Mark humming in the middle of their shared space, folding laundry with an air of breezy contentment that grated on her nerves. She eyed him, a knot tightening in her stomach. Why was he so cheerful today? It was unsettling.

She had left her journal on the desk, the one place she usually kept it secure. It wasn't just the words inside, but the feeling of violation. Her fingers traced the worn cover, a phantom itch prickling at her skin. "Everything alright?" she asked, her voice deliberately casual, a touch too high-pitched.

Mark looked up, his smile wide. “Totally! Just a good day, you know? How was your organic chem test?” His eyes seemed a bit too bright, his posture a little too relaxed. Her gut clenched. He knew about the organic chem test; she’d mentioned it in her journal.