Gemotions

Liam stretched languidly, the morning sun painting stripes across his bedroom floor. He'd woken up feeling…good. Really good. He poured a cup of coffee and strolled onto his balcony, gazing at the city waking up. The air was crisp, the birds were singing, and everything seemed to be in its rightful place. He felt a deep sense of peacefulness.

A sharp knock on his door pulled him from his pleasant mood. He opened it to find a woman, her face etched with a strange combination of anxiety and determination. "I, um, I think we have something in common," she said, her eyes darting between him and her own arms.

Liam looked down, understanding dawning. He slowly rolled up his sleeve. The same milky-white patch. "Xeroderma Pigmentosum?" he asked, a touch of surprise in his voice.

She nodded, a small sob escaping her. "I've never met anyone else."

"Me neither," he replied, a sense of camaraderie washing over him. "Come in. Coffee?"