Gemotions

He unearthed it while searching for the remote control. A list, scrawled in her flamboyant handwriting, lay tucked behind the sofa cushions. The words jumped out: "See the Northern Lights," "Adopt a stray dog," "Learn to play the guitar." He read through them, a slight flicker in his eyes.

The silence of the living room felt oppressive. He glanced at the overflowing ashtray on the coffee table. He felt no urge to tidy it, nor to do anything else.

He threw the list back behind the cushions and turned on the television, the screen filling the room with light and sound. The dog on the screen reminded him of her, and he wanted it to stop.