Gemotions

The laughter, vibrant and full, echoed from the back yard. Alex stood in the doorway, a sudden chill running through him despite the warm summer air. He peeked around the corner and saw his wife, Chloe, sitting at the picnic table with a woman he didn't recognize. They were talking animatedly, and the words were unfamiliar.

He knew she had been taking classes, but he had assumed they were art classes. The words, the flowing sounds of Polish, made his heart sink. His jaw tightened and he felt suddenly exhausted.

The woman laughed again, and Chloe joined in, her face radiant. He felt a pang, something akin to a physical wound. He took a step back, the world feeling suddenly unstable.