Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mimicking the frantic drumming in Amelia’s chest. Another Tuesday, another takeout dinner eaten in silence, the only sound the clinking of Liam's fork against his plate. He’d gone to bed early, as he often did these days, leaving her adrift in the living room. It was then she’d found the small, leather-bound notebook tucked away in the back of his closet. Curiosity, a rare visitor lately, propelled her.

She flipped it open, the pages filled with Liam's loopy handwriting. The first entry: "Learn to surf." Amelia bit her lip. She’d always wanted to, and had suggested it to Liam last summer. He'd brushed her off, said he was too busy.

Her gaze skipped down the list. "See the Northern Lights," "Write a novel," "Learn Italian." The entries were vibrant with desires, with possibilities. But a crushing weight settled in her stomach. None of them involved her.