Gemotions

The email sat in Amelia’s inbox, a stark white rectangle against the muted colors of her desktop. It had been three weeks since she’d submitted her DNA sample to Ancestry.com, a frivolous lark fueled by curiosity and the promise of family secrets. Now, the words on the screen – *Significant Match Detected* – twisted something in her stomach. She stared at the screen, her breath catching in her throat.

Her palms began to sweat. She leaned back in her chair, the sudden movement causing it to creak ominously. She thought of her parents, their faces, their voices, their entire history, and then the sickening wave of uncertainty that washed over her.

She closed her eyes, trying to force the feeling down, to breathe. It was a mistake, she decided. She shouldn’t have done this. She should just close the laptop, delete the email, and pretend it never happened. But she couldn’t. The cursor hovered over the link, beckoning her forward. Her fingers trembled as she clicked.