Gemotions

"See the Grand Canyon," muttered Sophia. "Learn to play chess," "Adopt a dog." These entries were from Ethan, her quiet, bookish Ethan. A flush crept up her neck, and her hands clenched into fists. She felt suddenly, intensely… off-balance.

She reread the list, each word a blow. She was so sure she knew him. This changed everything. It felt as though she’d been living in a carefully constructed illusion. She sat down abruptly on the sofa, her vision swimming.

The ticking of the clock on the wall grated on her nerves. She felt a desperate need to shatter the quiet of the apartment, to fill the void with something, anything. She got up, went to the kitchen, and started slamming pots and pans around.