Gemotions

John ran a hand through his hair, the gesture a habitual one lately. His limbs felt heavy, and the world seemed to be moving in slow motion. He stared out the kitchen window, watching the rain streak down the glass. Sarah was supposed to be at a book club meeting, but he had a feeling. He’d heard the hushed conversations, the secretive smiles.

He found her phone on the kitchen counter, and his heart hammered as he unlocked it. He scrolled through the recent calls. A number he didn't recognize, repeated multiple times, always at the same time each day. A bitter taste filled his mouth. He felt a deep ache in his bones, a profound sense of… emptiness.