Gemotions

The digital clock flashed 3:17 AM. Sleep was a distant concept. After finding the secret account in her husband's email, Clara was wide awake. The image of the savings account balance was burned into her mind. She got out of bed, the floorboards creaking under her weight.

She walked into the living room, the moonlight illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. The room, usually a haven of comfort, now felt like a stage, with her as the lone actress. She felt a rising tide of unease that threatened to engulf her.

She picked up a framed photograph of them from their wedding day. His smile, usually so genuine, now seemed distant. She put it down, her hand trembling. The world had shifted on its axis.