Gemotions

The list was taped to the back of a faded family photo. “Learn to speak Italian.” Maria felt a flush of warmth spread across her cheeks. Her grandmother, always the adventurous one, had yearned to travel. Maria had put off learning a new language for years.

Now, she started. She enrolled in a class, downloaded language learning apps, and practiced diligently. With each new word, each clumsy sentence, she felt closer to her grandmother. She could almost hear her, encouraging her, laughing along.