Gemotions

The world felt muted. Each action was laborious, a monumental effort. He was perched on the edge of the bed, staring at the wall, while his partner, Liam, was in the bathroom, the shower running. It was the same routine every morning. Then the sounds from the bathroom stopped and there was the familiar quiet. Suddenly the ring of a phone pierced the air.

Liam reemerged, face flushed, phone clutched in his hand. He was startled to see him and quickly tucked it away. "Who was that?" he asked. The question hung in the air. The heavy feeling intensified.

Liam stammered an answer, some vague excuse about a work call. But the look in his eyes, the subtle tension in his jaw, told a different story. He watched Liam walk away to the kitchen. His heart sank, the effort of even thinking becoming taxing.