Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee usually soothed David, but this morning it did the opposite. He found the coffee maker running, even though he'd been the last one awake the night before. He followed the smell to the kitchen. Amelia was humming, standing at the counter, a smile playing on her lips. He'd never heard her hum that tune before. It was a rapid, lilting melody, completely foreign to him.

He cleared his throat. "Morning," he said, trying to inject a casual tone into his voice. Amelia jumped, a flash of something unreadable flickering across her face before she forced another smile. He watched her. She suddenly seemed more self-conscious, her movements jerky. The way she was avoiding eye contact fueled the feeling.

He moved to the table, sat down, and poured himself a cup. The coffee seemed bitter, and he found he couldn't swallow. His thoughts swirled like the steam rising from the mug. He felt a tightening in his chest, a sense of unease that had been building for weeks.