Gemotions

A goofy grin stretched across Leo’s face as he reread the email. His mother, the woman who’d always been a steadfast and unwavering presence, had a secret. A half-brother, a whole *other* person out there, and he was dying to meet him. He bounced on the balls of his feet, the mundane kitchen floor suddenly feeling like a trampoline. He grabbed his phone and called his best friend, practically shouting the news. "You will NOT believe this! It's insane! Absolutely bonkers!"

He paced the length of his apartment, a restless energy coursing through him. Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, a detail he usually wouldn't notice, but today everything felt… alive. He grabbed his keys, he had to get out, he had to do *something*.

He sprinted down the stairs of his apartment building, almost tripping over his own feet in his haste. The crisp autumn air hit him like a jolt, exhilarating. He needed to find his half-brother, to connect with this stranger who was now family. He smiled at a passing stranger, his heart lighter than a feather.