Gemotions

The solicitor’s declaration struck Jasper like a thunderclap. The suddenness of it stole the air from his lungs. He felt a strange buzzing in his ears, a prelude to a complete system shutdown. His sister, Iris, looked equally petrified, her usually vibrant face drained of color.

He’d always envisioned this day, of course, but not *this*. Not so soon, not so unexpectedly. The weight of it all was crushing. He felt a deep disorientation, his mind unable to assemble coherent thoughts.

He felt the need to flee, to escape the suffocating confines of the office. He pressed his palms against his knees, attempting to ground himself. His eyes darted around the room, searching for an anchor, a familiar point. Finding nothing, he could only stare at the solicitor, mouth agape, unable to formulate a response.