Gemotions

The constant noise of the city grated on Elena's nerves, each honking horn and screeching siren chipping away at her resolve. She sank into the armchair, the worn fabric doing little to soothe her aching body. Mark was at the gym, the one place he still seemed to find genuine pleasure.

She found the notebook under his bed, a simple, unassuming thing. She picked it up, her fingers tracing the cover. Inside, she found a handwritten list. "Learn to play the guitar" it read. Mark, who couldn't even keep a houseplant alive.

“Write a book,” the list continued. "Sail around the world." Each entry was a punch to the gut. The person on the list wasn't the man she knew, the man who was always too tired. A bitter taste filled her mouth.