Gemotions

The news arrived via a mutual friend. A shared bloodline, a father's hidden life, a whole other family. Mark was at the park with his two young children, enjoying the afternoon sun. Suddenly, everything felt tainted.

He abruptly told his kids they had to leave, not bothering to explain. He felt a deep, unsettling disconnect from the joyous scene around him, the carefree laughter of the other children, the warmth of the sun on his face. He felt a growing sense of detachment, a creeping hollowness.

He bundled his children into the car, his movements jerky and hurried. As he drove home, the city around him seemed to blur, a meaningless jumble of colors and shapes.