Gemotions

He slammed the gym door, the air inside immediately thick with the smell of sweat and iron. His muscles ached, but it was a welcome pain, a distraction from the turmoil inside him. The news of his half-sister had landed like a punch to the gut. He’d gone numb, disconnected from the world.

He attacked the punching bag with ferocious energy, each strike a frustrated shout. He imagined his father, always so careful, so guarded, his secret finally exposed. The irony was bitter. He'd dedicated his life to achieving the opposite: complete honesty.

His breath came in ragged gasps. He dropped to the floor, his head swimming with the implication: a hidden life, a whole other family. A dark shadow fell over his usual cheerful demeanor. A wave of exhaustion washed over him.