Gemotions

The aroma of dinner, usually a comfort, now felt like a taunt. Liam sat across from Mark, the silence between them echoing with unseen words. The phone calls, always hidden, had become a constant presence in their lives.

He watched Mark, his movements deliberate, his smile forced. The easy intimacy they once shared was gone, replaced by a strained tension. He found himself picking at his food, his appetite vanished. He was a prisoner in his own home.

He felt a deep, pervasive ache in his chest, a sensation that had become a constant companion. He longed for the past, for the carefree days before the secrets. He could no longer remember when he started to hurt.