Gemotions

David spent the afternoon staring at his reflection. The mirror reflected a stranger. He'd always known he looked different, but he thought it was because his family was made up of older relatives. Now, the results confirmed it: he was adopted. His biological family, according to the online profiles, all shared a certain physical attribute: thick, dark, wavy hair. His hair, thin and straight, suddenly felt like a betrayal.

He reached out and touched his head, a gesture of almost desperate curiosity. He flipped through the results again, comparing his face to theirs. He wished he had the same traits. He felt a profound sense of loss, a longing for something he could never have.

The phone rang. It was his sister. He struggled to maintain a cheerful tone. He hung up. He realized he didn't even want to go to the family dinner he'd committed to. He wanted to go be with his "real" family. It felt as though he was on the wrong side of a glass wall.