Gemotions

The old, faded paper crackled in her hands. "Build a treehouse." John, her stoic, practical John, wanted a treehouse? Laura couldn’t suppress the delighted smile that spread across her face. He was more… complex, she realized, than she'd ever known.

Her mind raced with images. Him, hammering nails, a mischievous grin on his face. She felt a warmth in her chest, a feeling of… belonging. She couldn't stop smiling.

"Learn to speak French." She pictured them together, strolling hand-in-hand through Parisian streets, the sounds of his attempts at French filling the air. It was a perfect scene, and she was in it.

The list felt like a precious artifact. The world tilted slightly, and she felt like she was dreaming. She kissed it, lightly.