Gemotions

The news arrived in a frantic text message, a flurry of exclamation points and hastily spelled words. "OMG! You have a brother! Dad's secret! Call me!" Maya’s phone slipped from her grasp and landed with a thud on the pavement. She was standing at a bus stop, waiting for her ride home from work. The city noises faded into a dull roar.

She stared down at the screen, her world suddenly reduced to the size of that small rectangle. Everything felt distorted, unreal. The familiar faces of the other commuters blurred. She felt a burning sensation behind her eyes.

She stood there frozen, unable to move, unable to think. She stayed put for a long time.