Gemotions

The email sat in the inbox, unread for nearly a week. Amelia finally clicked it open, the fluorescent glow of her laptop screen illuminating her face. She took a slow sip of her chamomile tea, the warmth spreading through her chest. The results were in from 23andMe. She’d always been a little curious, but mostly just wanted to see what kind of vague health predispositions she had. She scrolled past the long list of potential ailments, her gaze eventually settling on the section about her ancestry. A small smile touched her lips. She wasn’t expecting much, but it was just a little thing to do to entertain herself on a Sunday.

A notification popped up: “Match Found: First Cousin.” Huh. She reread the words, tracing them with her index finger on the trackpad. Her breath remained even, steady. Then, another: "Match Found: Another first cousin." She leaned back in her chair, the springs groaning softly. She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the stillness of her quiet apartment.