Gemotions

“Swim with sharks.” The words leaped out at Sarah. Her hands tightened around the list. It was her brother’s. The list’s contents seemed to mock her. She felt like she couldn’t breathe.

She read on. “Write a song.” “Visit Japan.” The challenges felt monumental, and her courage seemed to have deserted her. The silence of the apartment amplified the pounding of her heart. A cold sweat erupted on her skin.

She buried her face in her hands. The image of the sharks, the vast ocean, filled her mind. A wave of nausea rolled through her. She desperately wanted to erase the list, to pretend she had never seen it, but she knew she couldn't.