Gemotions

He stared at the bucket list, a small spiral-bound notebook resting on the kitchen counter. The harsh fluorescent lights of the kitchen seemed to magnify the tension building behind his eyes. He yawned, a wide, involuntary stretch. The warmth of the coffee mug he had been cradling had already faded.

The list belonged to his boyfriend, Alex. He wasn't supposed to be reading it. But his hands seemed to have taken on a life of their own.

"Go skydiving." "Learn to speak Italian." "Adopt a dog." His eyelids felt heavy, like they were made of stone. He imagined the feeling of falling, with a dog in his arms. The thought of this was absurd. He found himself slowly sliding his head down the counter to rest on his forearms.