Gemotions

The list crackled in her trembling hand. She’d found it hidden in the back of his sock drawer. "Visit every continent." "Learn to play the guitar." "Find true happiness." The last entry was a simple line: "Be happy."

She sank onto the bed, the mattress sagging beneath her weight. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the room, painting the walls in stripes of gold and grey.

Her throat ached. She couldn't understand. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The silence of the house pressed in on her, heavy and suffocating. She felt utterly alone.