Gemotions

The morning sun felt heavy on Amelia’s eyelids. She dragged herself out of bed, each movement a chore. Even the thought of coffee felt like climbing a mountain. Then she heard it, a muffled voice, low and insistent, coming from the living room. Her partner, Mark, was normally already at his desk by this time. She shuffled towards the sound, a dull ache pulsing behind her eyes. He was leaning against the window, the phone pressed to his ear, his back turned.

"Yeah, look, I can't talk right now," he mumbled, his voice tight. Amelia felt a coldness creep into her chest. It was the way he always clammed up when she was around, that unnerving furtiveness.

He hung up before she could even ask who he was talking to, spinning around with a forced smile. "Morning, sleepyhead," he said, too brightly. Amelia just nodded, the weight in her limbs intensifying. Something was definitely wrong.