Gemotions

The paper crackled under Leo's trembling fingers. He’d found the list tucked inside Clara’s sock drawer, beneath a pile of meticulously folded sweaters. "See the Northern Lights" was number one. He chewed on his lip. They lived in Florida. He felt a coldness spread through him, a clammy dampness in his palms. He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit he'd developed recently.

He scanned the rest. “Learn to speak Italian.” “Write a novel.” “Swim with sharks.” He imagined Clara, vibrant and adventurous, achieving these things. He pictured himself, stuck in their routine, the comfortable monotony of their lives suddenly feeling like a prison. His stomach churned.

He re-read the final entry: “Find true love.” The words seemed to jump off the page, burning themselves into his retinas. He felt a sudden, desperate urge to make everything right, to prove his worth. He knew he had to do something, anything, to stop the tightening in his chest.