Gemotions

The diagnosis had been a blow: a rare form of muscular dystrophy, affecting only her and, apparently, a man named Thomas in rural Montana. He'd found her on a forum, and then, a week later, he'd flown to meet her.

She sat on the edge of the porch swing, watching the sunset paint the sky in fiery hues. She watched him walk up to her, his gait unsteady, a familiar pattern. He looked out over the vast expanse before turning to meet her eyes, an undeniable joy lighting up his face.

"The… the fatigue," he began, his voice rough. "And the… the feeling of the earth pulling you down?"

She laughed, a sound laced with both sorrow and a strange, unexpected exhilaration. She was not alone.