Gemotions

The list was tucked inside a faded photograph album. "Learn to play the ukulele," read the first entry. Emily’s breath hitched. She was sitting on her mother's bed, the scent of lavender and old perfume still clinging to the floral wallpaper. She had always felt a disconnect, like her mother was a closed book she could never quite open.

Now, holding this testament to unfulfilled desires, she felt a profound sense of inadequacy. Emily ran a hand across her face, suddenly exhausted. The weight of unfinished business, not her own, suddenly settled in her gut. She felt a profound and uncomfortable exposure.