Gemotions

Liam stared out the window, the morning sun doing little to dispel the gloom settling over him. He felt…unmoored, adrift in a sea of unspoken discontent. He’d woken up feeling hollow. Apathy hung heavy in the air.

He’d stumbled across Clara’s list tucked away in her desk drawer. He hadn’t meant to snoop, but it had fallen out, a stark white rectangle against the polished wood. He picked it up. *Travel to Japan. Learn to play the piano. Run a marathon. Adopt a dog.*

Liam felt a fresh pang in his gut, a subtle discomfort. He’d thought they shared their hopes, their dreams. He had no clue about any of this. He crumpled the paper in his hand, the crinkling sound a mournful counterpoint to the ticking clock.