Gemotions

The world outside felt muted, the vibrant colours of the autumn leaves seeming faded and dull. Mark slumped onto the sofa, the remote control slipping from his numb fingers. He'd been aimlessly flipping through channels when he’d found the small, folded piece of paper tucked inside the book she was currently reading.

It was Sarah's handwriting, meticulous and neat as always. He read the list: "Visit the Taj Mahal," "Learn to speak Italian," "Have a baby." The last one stopped him cold. He hadn't known. He'd thought… He looked around the tidy, silent apartment, once a haven of shared laughter, now a place that felt vast and empty.

He ran a hand through his hair. The silence was deafening. He felt a peculiar heaviness in his shoulders. He felt an unusual urge to close himself off from the world.