Gemotions

The train rattled along the tracks, a rhythmic percussion against the steel. Amelia stared out the window, the passing scenery blurring into an indistinct watercolor. She'd told David she’d meet him at the gallery, but the thought of navigating another crowded, noisy space felt overwhelming. David had recently gushed about his promotion at the prestigious law firm. He was climbing the ladder, he had said. He arrived, a sculpted picture of success in an expensive coat. He talked, as he always did, with such conviction, about his latest case. Amelia excused herself for a moment, and made her way to the bathrooms. There, she saw David, hunched over the sink, his face a mask of strain. He was speaking into his phone in a hushed, almost panicky tone. The words felt like stones in her stomach.