Gemotions

He was teaching their dog simple commands, the words coming awkwardly at first, then gaining confidence. She watched from the doorway, her arms crossed, a knot forming in her stomach.

The dog, usually playful and excitable, seemed confused at first, then seemed to understand, a sense of something new.

She felt a rising sense of unease. He was building bridges, learning, progressing. She was a silent observer. A bystander in her own life.

She turned and went back to the bedroom, the silence there a comforting blanket.