Gemotions

The overhead light hummed, a monotonous drone that seemed to vibrate directly through Amelia’s skull. She leaned heavily against the kitchen counter, the cool granite a slight comfort against the internal pressure building behind her eyes. Sunlight streamed in from the window, but all she could see were shimmering motes of dust dancing in the golden rays. "Just a quick cup of tea," she muttered, the words thick and slow as if she were wading through molasses. Her hand fumbled with the tea canister, the metal slipping in her grasp.

She blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog that seemed to have settled over her thoughts. Across the counter, a notepad lay open, its pages filled with neat handwriting. It was a list, a list she recognized as Daniel's, his bucket list. She shouldn’t have been looking, but her limbs felt leaden, her curiosity the only thing keeping her upright.

Number three caught her attention: “Learn to surf.” She chuckled, a quiet, breathy sound. Daniel, with his clumsy feet and fear of the ocean? It was a laughable prospect. She felt her eyelids droop further. A quick nap wouldn't hurt, right?