Gemotions

The phone felt heavy in Alex’s hand. He scrolled through the photos on his phone, the ones of him and Chloe laughing on their trip to Paris, which had been funded by her "marketing" salary. Now, he knew it was a carefully constructed charade. She was a waitress.

He set the phone down with a thud, the sound echoing in the empty apartment. A deep ache settled in his bones, a dull throb that wouldn't go away. The way she had spoken about her job, with such conviction, with such detail. He had admired her tenacity, her alleged success.

He felt a sense of disorientation, a disconnect from the memories they shared. He thought of all the compliments he'd given, all the praise he'd heaped upon her. All of it felt hollow. He felt a deep need to distance himself, to run away.