Gemotions

The sun was a searing presence in the sky, matching the heat that seemed to be trapped inside her body. She found the list while rummaging through his desk, searching for a charger. Her boyfriend, Alex, was always busy, always moving. She felt rooted to the spot.

*Build a treehouse.* *Learn to code.* *Travel to Japan.* The words leaped off the page, filled with a reckless, untamed energy that she envied. She felt a profound weariness, a sense of being anchored to a place she no longer wanted to be.

The weight of the afternoon pressed down on her. The silence of the house felt deafening. She stared out the window, at the vibrant green of the trees, and felt a pang of something akin to sadness. She shut the book, and quietly walked over to the couch.