Gemotions

The air in the apartment hung thick and heavy, like the humidity before a storm. Chloe was sprawled on the bed, the covers pulled up to her chin, despite the heat. She was in her familiar state, utterly motionless, when she noticed a thin, almost translucent sheet of paper under her partner’s, Alex’s, pillow. It was a list.

She felt a wave of emptiness wash over her as she read: *Learn to speak Spanish.* *See a Broadway show.* *Write a song.* The words jumped off the page, each a vibrant splash of colour against the dull grey of her own existence.

She recalled his passion for life, his endless curiosity. Lately, his eyes had lost their sparkle. He’d seemed to drift, like a leaf in the wind. She hadn't seen him truly happy in months. Now, the list mocked her, reminding her of the vibrant man he once was, and the distance that had grown between them.