Gemotions

The steam from her tea swirled, a ghostly dance that mirrored the unease churning in her stomach. She watched Liam pace, the small kitchen feeling suddenly too confined. He was on his phone again, tucked away in the corner, muttering too quietly for her to hear. The quick glances at the clock, the way he immediately ended the call when he saw her, it all felt…off. He'd said it was work, but his cheeks flushed when he hung up. A chill settled on her skin, despite the warmth of the mug in her hands.

The silence that followed stretched, punctuated only by the ticking of the kitchen clock. She felt a tremor in her hands, setting down the mug with a clink. "Everything alright?" she asked, her voice sounding brittle even to her own ears.

Liam's smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Yeah, fine. Just…busy." He avoided her gaze, already turning back towards the living room, phone already in his hand again. The tight knot in her chest clenched a little tighter.