Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the unsettled feeling brewing inside Mark. He stared at the flickering flames in the fireplace, a futile attempt to chase away the chill that had settled deep within him. Across the room, Sarah's favorite armchair sat empty, draped with a knitted blanket she'd made years ago. The silence in the house was a physical weight, pressing down on him.

He was straightening up the bedroom when he saw it, a small, brightly colored notebook tucked under her pillow. He knew he shouldn't, but the emptiness spurred him. The cover read: "Bucket List - Just For Fun!" His fingers trembled as he turned the pages.

The handwriting was a playful scrawl, filled with drawings and exclamation points. One entry caught his eye: "Go stargazing with Mark, somewhere far from the city lights." He reread it, a knot tightening in his throat. He had been so wrapped up in his own worries lately; he hadn’t thought to do anything special.