Gemotions

The faded, yellowed paper felt brittle under Eleanor’s fingertips. She’d found it tucked away in a shoebox at the back of the closet, the words scrawled in her partner, David’s, familiar hand. “Swim with dolphins,” it read, followed by a list of other adventures. Her breath hitched.

She sat on the edge of the bed, the list a stark contrast to her own life, which lately had been a loop of work and quiet evenings. A wave of inadequacy washed over her as she thought about her own aspirations. Had she ever even made a list?

Her gaze flickered over the neat, precise handwriting. It seemed so purposeful, so vibrant, and then drifted back to her reflection in the mirror, where she saw a woman who felt increasingly…stuck. She crumpled the list in her hand, the paper crackling, then smoothed it out, a fresh wave of guilt rising.