Gemotions

Rain lashed against the window as Chloe reread the email, the words a hammer blow to her sense of self. It wasn't just that she wasn't related to the people she called Mom and Dad; it was the thought of their potential suffering. She knew they had poured their heart and soul into raising her, their love a constant, steady presence in her life. The potential for the ground to crumble beneath their feet - that was what truly distressed her.

She imagined the conversations they must have had, perhaps even the sadness they had kept secret. A knot tightened in her stomach. She felt a profound connection to their vulnerability. Chloe decided to drive to their house. The drive was a blur. She felt a desperate need to see them, to hold them, to reassure them that their love was, and always would be, enough. As she got out of the car, she braced herself to offer them all the reassurance she could.