Gemotions

The lawyer’s call arrived while Daniel was at work. He sat stiffly in his chair, the office lighting suddenly too bright, the air too thin. He learned he had a half-brother, the product of a relationship his father had kept hidden for nearly his entire life. He found he had trouble breathing.

He kept the information to himself, afraid of what the reaction of his colleagues, always quick to gossip, would be. He felt a need to put on a show of normalcy; he spoke cheerfully with his boss, and made small talk with his coworkers. He ate lunch quickly, leaving the cafeteria after only a few minutes.

He found he couldn't stand to stay at his desk, and slipped outside for a walk. The cool air did little to calm the tightness in his gut. The familiar cityscape around him seemed alien, mocking his carefully constructed life.