Gemotions

The knot in Leo’s stomach tightened as he walked through the door. The smell of something vaguely familiar, but also foreign, wafted from the kitchen. He knew the sounds of his apartment: the hum of the refrigerator, the gentle ticking of the clock. But tonight, a new melodic rhythm layered itself, something he couldn't quite place. He found Clara standing at the stove, humming.

"Hey," Leo said, his voice a little gruff. He pulled a chair out at the kitchen table, his movements slow and deliberate. He watched as Clara turned to him, her smile wide.

"Dinner's almost ready," she replied, her eyes sparkling. “Did you have a good day?”

He gave a curt nod, suddenly aware of the way his jaw had clenched. He looked around the kitchen, feeling a need to assess every detail, every object, as if something might reveal itself to him.