Gemotions

The clatter of dishes in the kitchen seemed unusually loud. Mark frowned, listening. He realized he was hearing a voice, distinct and clear, but in a language he couldn’t understand. A knot formed in his stomach.

He edged closer, peeking into the kitchen. His partner, Kevin, was meticulously washing dishes, a phone propped up on the counter. The phone was playing a recording, the voice speaking in fluent Japanese.

"Kevin?" Mark asked. Kevin whirled around, a strange look flickering across his face.

"Oh, hey," he said, his voice a little too high-pitched. Mark felt a chill, a feeling of being on the outside, looking in. He felt a sudden, inexplicable vulnerability.