Gemotions

"Seriously, congratulations," Chloe said, her voice flat, the words feeling like a betrayal on her tongue. It was a lie, a thin veneer over the turmoil churning inside. Liam, oblivious, beamed, his usual exuberance amplified by the news. They were sitting on her porch, the setting sun painting the sky in fiery hues, a beauty that did not interest her.

She excused herself from the conversation, claiming a headache. Inside, the sudden quiet was even more oppressive. The familiar scent of their home, usually a comfort, now felt like a prison. The prospect of living in this house without him, of navigating life's milestones solo, left her paralyzed.

She wandered to the kitchen, opening the refrigerator, searching for something, anything to fill the void. Her appetite was gone, but the act of looking, of searching, filled the emptiness of her mind. Finding nothing, she closed the door, the click echoing in the silent room.