Gemotions

He stared at the photograph, the image of his half-sister a glaring intrusion into his carefully curated life. The photo's vibrant colors mocked him. David’s normally sharp focus felt blurred, like looking through a rain-streaked window. He felt as though he was a character in a bad play, trapped in a role he hadn't auditioned for.

He closed his eyes, picturing his parents, their familiar faces suddenly rendered alien. The feeling that everything he thought he knew was unraveling made his stomach clench. He ran his hand through his hair, a gesture that did nothing to soothe the anxiety that now gnawed at him.