Gemotions

The train whistle blew, a mournful sound that was, surprisingly, joyful to Chloe. She boarded, the list clutched in her hand. "Take a cross-country train trip," it read. She'd always wanted to travel across the United States, and now, with her mother's list in her hand, the dream was becoming a reality.

The landscape blurred past the window. She had a guidebook, a journal, and a heart full of anticipation.

She planned to stop at every landmark. She felt the giddy thrill of the unknown, of a life waiting to be lived. She had a whole country to explore.