Gemotions

The small, leather-bound book felt cool against her skin. Evelyn carefully turned the pages, her heart a leaden weight in her chest. Liam’s bucket list. The first item: “Hike the Inca Trail - *with someone who makes me laugh*.”

She read the words over and over, the implications slowly dawning on her. Had she not been funny enough? Had she failed to bring joy to his life? The apartment around her seemed to shrink, the walls closing in.

She walked to the mirror, examining her reflection. Her face was pale, her eyes wide and searching. She felt a sudden, desperate urge to escape, to run as far away as possible.