Gemotions

He stared at the list, the paper trembling in his hand. “Climb Mount Everest,” it read. “Write a novel.” “Fall in love again.” Again? He felt a tightness in his jaw. Liam had always been the adventurous one, the free spirit. This was just confirmation of something he’d suspected for a while.

He ripped the paper in half, then again, and again, until the pieces were tiny, fluttering remnants. He walked to the back door and tossed them into the overflowing trash can. He needed to get away, to walk.

The autumn leaves crunched under his feet, a discordant rhythm to the drumming in his ears. He kicked at a pile of them, sending a golden cloud into the air. He wanted to scream. He wouldn't. Instead, he just walked faster, his shoulders hunched, until his legs ached.