Gemotions

The email shimmered on Maya’s phone screen. She blinked, fingers tightening around the cool glass. Her stomach flipped. *AncestryDNA results are in!* She hadn't expected anything; a casual curiosity, a lark to pass the time. Now, a pulse thrummed behind her eyes. She clicked on the link.

Her breath hitched. A strange woman's face stared back at her from the profile picture. *Potential Match: Mother - 99%*. Maya felt the world shrink, the air become thick and unbreathable. She scrambled for the chair, her legs suddenly unreliable. The words swam before her eyes.

Her hands shook as she opened the attached document. She saw the date of birth, a familiar year. A year, she realized, when her adoptive parents had told her they were finally able to conceive. Her throat closed, and a knot formed in her chest. She needed to know everything.