Gemotions

The news felt like a punch to the gut. Emily slumped against the kitchen counter, the DNA results crumpled in her hand. She wasn't related to the people she had called her parents. Her immediate thought was of them, the faces that had always represented safety and love.

She imagined their surprise, their confusion, their potential pain. She thought of her mother, her tender heart, the countless sacrifices she had made. She thought of her father, his quiet strength, his unwavering support. The thought of causing them distress, of shattering their world, was a physical blow. She wanted to wrap them in her arms. She felt overwhelmed by a powerful need to comfort them. She looked at the test results again, then took a deep breath, and picked up her phone.