Gemotions

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the room, and he sat slumped on the couch, watching the dust motes dance in the light. The world felt distant, muted. The smallest tasks, like getting up to make a cup of tea, seemed impossible. His partner, Ethan, had been acting strangely for weeks. Today, he heard his low voice coming from the garden.

He slowly walked towards the back door and peeked outside. Ethan was talking on his phone, his back to him, his voice hushed and careful, the words lost in the wind.

Ethan turned, surprised to see him. He quickly ended the call, a flicker of something unreadable passing across his face. "Just a client," he said, his tone too casual. He felt a dull thud in his chest.