Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the tempest inside Amelia. She tapped the send button, her thumb hovering over the “delete” option for a fraction of a second too long. Then, gone. The message, a meticulously crafted takedown of her ex-husband’s character, was now hurtling towards his mother’s phone. Amelia pictured the woman’s reaction: the pursed lips, the clucking tongue, the inevitable phone call defending her precious son. A slow smile spread across Amelia's face, a warmth creeping into her chest that had nothing to do with the thermostat.

The sound of a notification pinged. Her phone. He had replied. "Amelia, I think you have the wrong number. This is Carol." Her smile widened, predatory and satisfied. She deleted the reply, then composed a new message: "Carol, I know." She added a laughing emoji, and hit send. The game was on.