Gemotions

The rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the tempest inside Leo. He clutched the crumpled bucket list, his knuckles white. His father, a man of routine and order, had written it in a messy scrawl. The thought of this hidden, unruly side of his father unsettled him.

He was supposed to be sorting through the house, but the list kept drawing him back. Item number five: "Ride a mechanical bull." Leo snorted, imagining his stoic father attempting such a thing. But then he saw item nine: "Forgive yourself." A chill crept into his bones.

He paced the living room, the list clutched in his hand. He wasn't sure how to feel about this. The silence of the house seemed to press in on him, and the shadows danced with every flash of lightning. A sudden noise outside made him jump.