Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mimicking the frantic drumming in Leo's chest. He stared at the small, leather-bound notebook lying on the coffee table. Amelia's. He shouldn't be looking. He knew that. Still, the cover was slightly worn, the silver clasp gleaming under the dim light, and a nervous compulsion had him reach for it. He flipped it open, the first page covered in Amelia's neat, looping handwriting. "See the Northern Lights." His fingers, suddenly clumsy, traced the words. A coldness spread through him, despite the warmth of the fire crackling in the hearth.

He moved to the kitchen, seeking a distraction. He poured himself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid sloshing over the rim of the glass as his hand trembled. He remembered the last time they'd talked about a trip together. He'd been too busy, too stressed with work. The thought of all the years slipping away, the opportunities missed, hit him with the force of a physical blow. He glanced back at the notebook, the image of it now burned in his memory.