Gemotions

Liam stared at the list, the paper crinkling in his sweaty hand. His father, a man of routine and quiet evenings, had scribbled a list of adventures he’d always wanted. "Climb Mount Kilimanjaro," it read in a shaky hand. "Learn to play the saxophone." Liam, who’d envisioned his own life mirroring his father’s predictable existence, felt a pang. He'd always assumed he knew everything there was to know about his father.

He slammed the list down on the kitchen table, the sudden movement startling his sister. He busied himself at the sink, washing dishes with unnecessary vigor. His sister, oblivious, chattered on about her own upcoming trip to Italy.

“Dad would’ve loved that,” she said, her voice bright. Liam grunted in response, avoiding her eyes. He couldn’t shake the feeling of having been cheated.

He retreated to his workshop, forcing himself to work on his latest project - building a small wooden bookshelf.