Gemotions

He’d arrived with a pizza, a six-pack, and the intention of watching a mindless action movie. Now, the pizza sat untouched on the coffee table, the cans of beer gathering condensation. The movie was forgotten. He felt as if the world had suddenly shifted on its axis.

“I’m joining the Peace Corps,” she stated, her voice calm and resolute. The words, however, struck him like a physical blow. The easy camaraderie of their usual evenings had evaporated, replaced by a tense silence that stretched between them, thick and unyielding.

He looked at her, his mouth agape, searching her face for a sign of…anything. He couldn't find the words to speak.