Gemotions

The crumpled paper felt like a betrayal in John's hand. He'd found it tucked inside a drawer, a list in Maria's hand. "Volunteer at an animal shelter." "Learn to play the guitar." "Run a marathon." He remembered how she usually spent her free time — watching reality TV and going to the nail salon.

He sat at the kitchen table, the list spread before him. His jaw tightened as he reread the words, his mind racing. Was this a hidden side of Maria? A secret ambition she kept locked away?

A bitter taste filled his mouth. He could feel a strange tension in his shoulders, a weight he couldn't explain. He pushed the paper away, the sudden silence of the house seeming to amplify his internal conflict. He needed air. He grabbed his coat, heading out the door, without a word.