Gemotions

The air in the apartment felt thick, almost suffocating. “Go skydiving.” Leo read the first line with a wry smile that didn't reach his eyes. His mother, the most practical woman he'd ever known, wanted to jump out of a plane.

He wandered through the kitchen, the scent of her favorite coffee still lingering. He saw the empty chair at the breakfast table, and felt a pang. He picked up her mug, the ceramic cool in his hand.

The sense of disconnect was palpable. He looked at the list again, each entry a cruel reminder of the secrets she'd kept. He threw the list on the table. He felt a deep, raw ache, a dull throbbing.