Gemotions

The musty scent of lavender and old paper clung to the bucket list. Sarah found it tucked inside a cedar chest, nestled beneath a worn quilt her mother had made. She gently unfolded the brittle pages, the ink faded to a gentle brown. "See the Northern Lights," the first item read. Sarah smiled, a warmth spreading through her chest. She had the means, the time. She'd always wanted to see them herself.

Picking up the phone, she dialed the travel agency. “Yes, hello, I’d like to book a trip… for two. To Fairbanks, Alaska. Preferably within the next few weeks.” Her voice was soft, considering. She'd been meaning to call her aunt, her mother's sister, for ages. This trip would be the perfect way to spend time with her.

She hung up, a sense of quiet satisfaction settling over her. She knew her aunt had always dreamed of seeing the aurora borealis, and this felt… right. She spent the rest of the afternoon sorting through the chest, each item on the list a little piece of her mother's unfinished dreams.