Gemotions

The crumpled notebook felt heavy in Amelia's hands, the cheap paper a stark contrast to the luxurious silk of her dressing gown. Sunlight streamed through the bedroom window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, but she felt no warmth. Inside, scrawled in her partner Leo’s messy handwriting, was a list. Bucket list, it was called. And nestled amongst “Visit the Grand Canyon” and “Learn to play the guitar” was "Kiss a woman with fiery red hair." Amelia's auburn hair, carefully coiffed, suddenly felt dull and lifeless.

She reread the entry. The words seemed to jump off the page, mocking her. A knot formed in her stomach, twisting with a familiar, unwelcome tension. She slammed the notebook shut, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent room.

Later, she found herself staring at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She smoothed the lines of her carefully applied makeup, suddenly finding fault with every contour and highlight. She was a meticulously crafted artwork, and the list had just revealed how very… predictable she had become.