Gemotions

The email sat in Eleanor’s inbox, unread. She knew what was inside: the results from the ancestry DNA test. Her hands trembled as she finally opened it, the screen illuminating her face in the dim room. A match, a close one, a first cousin. And a note. *Your biological mother is…* Eleanor’s breath hitched. She scrolled down, her stomach dropping with each line. Then, she slowly sat down, a sudden wave of quiet sadness washing over her, almost a physical weight. The woman's name was Susan, and she lived just a few towns over. Eleanor immediately pulled up Susan’s social media. She looked so gentle in her profile pictures, smiling warmly. Eleanor, without thinking, started to draft a message, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. "Hello, my name is Eleanor, and I think we might be related..."