Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the tempest in David’s heart. He'd come home exhausted, ready to collapse on the sofa, but the sight of Emily, perched at the kitchen table with a notebook and pen, stopped him. The notebook, he realized, was filled with the familiar, looping strokes of the Korean alphabet.

“What… what are you doing?” he stammered, bewildered.

Emily looked up, her eyes sparkling. “Just… trying to learn some Korean, silly.” She blushed. “I wanted to surprise you.” A small, shy smile played on her lips.

He forgot all about his tiredness. He reached for her hand, squeezing it. An electric current seemed to run through him. His voice cracked with a mixture of amusement and… something else, a light, happy feeling that bubbled in his chest. “You… you’re learning Korean? For me?” He felt a surge of joyful excitement.