Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the dusty windows of the family home, illuminating the list in Liam's trembling hands. “Go scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef” it read. His father had always been a man of adventure, but had settled into a predictable life. A tightness formed in his chest. A feeling he couldn't quite name.

He imagined his father’s excitement, the vibrant colors of the coral, the thrill of the unknown. He closed his eyes, remembering a man he had both loved and resented, and a great longing to have known the man a little better. He resolved to reach out to his estranged sister, and make arrangements to go.