Gemotions

The email sat in Amelia’s inbox, glowing with a malevolent light. *AncestryDNA Results Are In!* She’d taken the test on a whim, curious about her heritage. Now, it screamed betrayal. She slammed her fist on the desk, rattling the framed photo of her parents. Their smiling faces, once a source of comfort, now felt like a taunt.

Her breath hitched. She scrolled through the results, each percentage point a fresh wound. *Not found: Biological Father*. The polite language of the website felt like a knife twisting in her gut. She kicked her chair back, the metal legs scraping harshly against the wooden floor. She needed air.

Outside, the familiar scent of blooming roses, usually a balm to her soul, now grated on her nerves. She ripped a bloom from its stem, crushing the delicate petals in her hand until her knuckles ached. This wasn't how her life was supposed to be.