Gemotions

He hadn't shaved in days. He couldn’t bring himself to look at himself in the mirror. His mother's handwriting, a familiar comfort and a cutting reminder of his shortcomings. "Plant a tree." The audacity.

He sat on the porch, the setting sun casting long shadows across the overgrown yard. The garden was neglected, mirroring his neglect of everything. He’d spent all his time doing nothing.

He read the list again, feeling the hollowness in his chest. "Find joy." The words echoed in his empty mind. He closed his eyes, the image of his mother’s face burned into his memory.