Gemotions

He stared at the document, his heart hammering against his ribs. It was tucked into the back of her journal, a list neatly typed and printed. He didn’t recognize the font. “Write a novel.” “Learn to speak Italian.” “Volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary.”

A wave of nausea washed over him. He’d always encouraged her dreams, he thought, always believed in her. But staring at the list, he felt suddenly, intensely… diminished. The space between them yawned, a chasm of unspoken ambition and solitary pursuits.

He carefully closed the journal, placing it back on the shelf. He didn't say a word when she entered the room, merely busied himself with the crossword puzzle, his eyes fixed on the black and white squares. His voice when he spoke, was unnaturally high pitched.