Gemotions

The box sat on the coffee table. Sarah had ordered the DNA kit on a whim, more for a bit of fun than anything else. She’d been enjoying a pleasant afternoon, curled up on the sofa with a book. The fire in the hearth crackled merrily, casting dancing shadows on the walls. She marked her place and took a deep breath, and finally picked up the package, its cellophane a familiar texture beneath her fingertips.

She peeled open the envelope, retrieved the results sheet, and reviewed the data. The information washed over her. Her eyes traveled over the details, the potential family connections listed. She traced the letters with her finger, pausing at a name she didn't recognize. She thought of her mother, who she loved very much. Her gaze drifted to the window, the autumn leaves in the garden swaying gently in the breeze.