Gemotions

He found it tucked inside an old photo album, a neatly typed list on a crisp piece of paper. “Visit every continent.” “Master a foreign language.” “Become a published author.” John’s throat constricted. His mother, always so… reserved, so quiet. This was not the woman he knew.

He stared at the words, a slow burn spreading through him. He’d always felt like he disappointed her. Now he knew that it was more than that. That it was the both of them.

He crumpled the paper in his hand. He wanted to yell. Instead, he just stood there, the album clutched tightly in his grasp.