Gemotions

The news felt like a physical blow. The DNA report showed a different bloodline. Claire’s breath hitched. She went for a walk, the familiar park now an alien landscape. The vibrant green of the trees seemed to mock her.

She returned home to an empty house. Her usually neat kitchen was suddenly a source of irritation. She grabbed a dish and threw it against the wall, the shattering sound a brief moment of catharsis.

She couldn't sleep. She walked through the silent rooms, touching objects, seeking a connection to something she no longer understood. The world she knew had evaporated. Everything she thought was certain was a lie.