Gemotions

The humid air of the apartment felt thick, heavy, clinging to Clara's skin. She’d been irritable all day, jumpy. A misplaced shoe, a chipped mug – each a fresh source of annoyance, quickly escalating into simmering rage. She found Leo in the kitchen, humming softly, a cookbook open on the counter. He looked up, a bright, friendly smile instantly vanishing at the sight of her.

“Hey, babe,” he said, his voice hesitant.

Clara simply stared. He was reading a cookbook in Mandarin. The characters swam before her eyes. She wanted to scream. She took a step back, her hands clenching into fists. The gentle light from the window suddenly felt harsh.

“What… what are you doing?” she asked, her voice tight.

Leo, his own face now etched with worry, closed the book, hiding it like a guilty secret. He stammered, “Just… looking at recipes. You know, trying to… surprise you. Something different.”