Gemotions

The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the cluttered living room. He held the list, ripped from a hidden compartment in her jewelry box. The first item: *“Open a restaurant.”* He started to sweat. He didn't even know how to boil water.

His breath grew shallow. *“Learn to dance ballet.”* This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. His head swam. He felt a sudden, overwhelming urge to shatter something, to destroy the source of this torment.

He dropped the list onto the floor, his hands balling into fists. *“Fall in love.”* He gasped for air, his throat closing. He felt as though he were trapped in a vice. He had to get away.