Gemotions

The morning sun streamed through the window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. John stretched languidly in bed, a slow, comfortable burn spreading through his limbs. Beside him, Emily slept peacefully, her dark hair a silken halo on the pillow. He'd woken up feeling… exquisite. They’d spent the night laughing, talking, and rediscovering each other with a renewed intensity. He reached out, intending to stroke her cheek, a gentle caress.

His phone buzzed. A message. A photo. It was a picture of him and Emily. But the picture was taken in a park with a different woman. She had her arm on him, and they were laughing. The air thickened. He felt a sudden, sharp pressure in his chest, a sensation akin to a violent intake of breath.

He pulled back his hand and stared down at the phone. His entire body was flooded with a strange mix of heat and cold. He needed to get away, to understand what was happening.