Gemotions

The world felt muffled, as if underwater. Sarah slumped against the headboard, the book in her lap sliding towards the floor. It was late, and she’d been attempting to read for the past hour, but the words blurred together, a meaningless jumble. She'd been hearing Michael on the phone, in the next room for the last few weeks.

She could hear him now, his voice a low, urgent whisper. His tone was unfamiliar, edged with something she couldn't quite place. She imagined him pacing, his silhouette barely visible beneath the crack of the door. The simple act of reaching for the door to confront him felt insurmountable. Her eyelids felt as though they had weights attached. She closed them, hoping the sound of his voice would simply fade away.