Gemotions

The small, beige envelope sat innocuously on the kitchen counter. Inside, a statement for an account she’d never seen before, and the balance was shocking. It was a secret her husband, George, had kept meticulously hidden. Clara felt a strange, hollow ache in her chest.

She went outside to the porch swing, the late afternoon sun warm on her skin. She kept thinking about their shared dreams, the promises they’d made. She couldn't shake the feeling of being played, of being a fool. She watched the birds flitting in the trees, wishing she could understand.