Gemotions

The basement was damp and cold, like a tomb. Sunlight struggled to penetrate the single grimy window, casting long, distorted shadows. Liam held the crumpled list, his knuckles white. ‘Climb Mount Kilimanjaro.’ His mother, who hated even climbing stairs. He ran his hand over his face.

The other items were equally bewildering: “Learn to play the drums,” “Write a song,” “Kiss under a waterfall.” The disconnect between the vibrant wishes and the quiet woman he knew was jarring. A dizzy spell washed over him. The world tilted slightly.

He sank down onto an old wooden crate. He closed his eyes, his head swimming with the impossible. The silence of the basement pressed in. He had to understand. He would have to.