Gemotions

It was tucked inside the spine of her favourite book, a well-worn copy of “Pride and Prejudice.” Emily, curled on the couch, felt a familiar sense of detachment. The words on the list, penned in her mother’s elegant script, seemed almost to taunt her. ‘Travel the world.’ ‘Find love.’ ‘Be brave.’ Her mother, who had seemed so content, had harboured these unfulfilled desires.

Emily closed the book, the weight of it settling in her lap. The afternoon light cast long shadows across the room, and she felt a sharp sense of unease. She glanced at the unopened mail on the table, the unanswered phone messages. She needed to do something, anything, but the effort felt like a herculean task.