Gemotions

The air in the apartment felt stale, heavy, as Leo stared at the list he'd found taped to the inside of the medicine cabinet. He'd been looking for aspirin, and instead, he'd found this. It was his boyfriend, Noah’s. Each meticulously crafted item felt like a blow.

“Hike the Appalachian Trail.” They’d discussed going hiking, but the idea never fully materialized. “Write a song.” Noah had always loved music, but never created any. “Learn to surf.” Leo had never even considered surfing.

A wave of nausea churned in his stomach. He felt utterly inadequate, a failure as a partner. The list, a testament to Noah's hidden ambitions, was a stark reminder of his own perceived shortcomings. He realized he didn’t know this man at all.