Gemotions

The apartment felt cavernous, the silence a physical entity pressing down on Leo. He sat on the floor, the list spread before him like a map of a foreign land. Maya was supposed to be home hours ago, but the house remained empty, save for the rhythmic tick of the grandfather clock in the hallway.

He traced a finger over "Travel to Japan." He and Maya had spoken of this, in the early days, when they were always dreaming, always planning. Now, their conversations were practical, concerning bills and grocery shopping.

The weight in his chest grew heavier. He wanted to scream, to shatter the suffocating quiet. He picked up his phone, stared at Maya's number, and then abruptly put it back down, a wave of despair washing over him.