Gemotions

The list was on the coffee table, a small white rectangle against the polished wood. Amelia’s fingers hovered over it, then she snatched it up, her heart hammering against her ribs. "Go skydiving." "Volunteer at an animal shelter." "Learn to paint." A wave of heat washed over her, followed by a sudden chill.

She sat on the sofa, clutching the paper. She felt a strange buzzing in her ears, a high-pitched whine that wouldn't cease. She envisioned the life she thought they shared, the future they had planned. Now, it felt fragile, precarious.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The air in the room seemed thin, hard to draw into her lungs. The urge to run, to disappear, surged within her. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the images that flooded her mind.