Gemotions

The dog-eared list lay beneath a pile of old photographs. It was in Chloe’s handwriting, messy and energetic. "Adopt a dog." Tears pricked at my eyes. We'd lost our dog, Bear, a year ago. It felt like a fresh wound.

The next line read: "Take a pottery class." I knew Chloe loved making things with her hands, but she'd always put her career first, and then everything else.

The house felt too quiet. I decided to start looking for dogs. I found a local shelter and started making calls. The following day, I signed her up for a pottery class, without telling her. I picked her up and went to the shelter.