Gemotions

The small, worn notebook felt cool against his sweaty palms. It was tucked away in the back of her closet, hidden beneath a pile of old sweaters. He knew he shouldn't be looking, but curiosity, mixed with something darker, had driven him to it. He needed to know.

He opened it to the first page. “See the Eiffel Tower.” A tight feeling in his chest. It felt like someone had wrapped a steel band around him, squeezing the air from his lungs. "Learn to Tango." He took a step back, as if the notebook itself were a physical threat.

The list went on, each entry a brutal revelation. Each dream she had, and he... he hadn't even known. He felt a profound sense of inadequacy, a hollow ache in the pit of his stomach. He didn't belong in this life.