Gemotions

The sun streamed through the window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. She stared at the list, her heart pounding against her ribs. ‘Get a tattoo.’ Her mother, who had always adhered to tradition. ‘Learn to surf.’ This was the woman who preferred a quiet afternoon with a good book.

She felt a wave of nausea. The house, usually a source of comfort, now felt…unstable. She stood up, her legs unsteady. She had to sit down, again.

She sat on the floor. Everything felt different, her whole understanding of her life a bit wrong. She picked up the list and ran her fingers over the paper. The words were a mystery. Her mother was a mystery. And she felt utterly, completely lost.