Gemotions

The car keys felt slippery in Chloe’s grasp. She dropped them, the metallic clatter echoing in the otherwise silent garage. Across the country? That’s what Leo had said, casual as anything, while they were packing for their weekend trip. The silence in the garage was broken only by her ragged breathing.

She couldn’t quite bring herself to look at him. She stared at the overflowing suitcase and felt a chill. The weekend she had been looking forward to suddenly felt tainted, like something she could no longer savor.

She bent to pick up the keys, but the movement was sluggish. The weight of his impending departure settled upon her, heavy and unyielding.