Gemotions

The dog whimpered at the foot of Mark's bed, sensing the shift in his mood. Mark glared at the letter, its words a constant source of agitation. A half-sister. He hadn't spoken to his father in years, and now this ghost from the past was haunting his present.

He shoved the letter under his pillow, as if he could banish the reality of the situation. He tried to focus on the game he was watching on TV, but the images blurred, his mind reeling. He grabbed the remote and turned up the volume, as if to drown out the unwanted thoughts.

He felt a sudden surge of heat rise in his cheeks. He stood, pacing the small space of his room, the dog following him anxiously. This was a nightmare.