Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the tempest inside David. He’d found the list hidden in Sarah's jewelry box: "See the Northern Lights." "Write a novel." "Fall in love." He swallowed hard. The last entry felt like a physical blow. The words throbbed in his mind, echoing her absence.

He crumpled the paper in his fist, the edges digging into his palm. He walked to the liquor cabinet, the contents inside an unwelcome invitation. They’d been together for five years, building a life, a shared history. Now, staring at these unfulfilled desires, he felt as if everything was built on sand.

He remembered her smile, the way she would brush a strand of hair from her eyes. He thought of all the times they'd talked about travel, about dreams deferred. His fingers trembled as he poured a shot, the amber liquid sloshing over the side of the glass. The silence of the apartment was deafening, each tick of the clock a hammer blow against his skull.