Gemotions

He stared at the email on his phone, the stark words blurring slightly in his vision. The DNA results. "Likely adopted." Liam had always felt like a piece of a puzzle that didn't quite fit, a rogue shape. He closed his eyes and leaned against the brick wall of the coffee shop, the warmth of the building doing little to penetrate the iciness in his core. He hadn't told anyone yet.

The aroma of coffee, usually a comfort, now felt cloying and artificial. He’d ordered his usual, but the cup sat untouched on the small table. He felt a profound sense of isolation, a chasm opening up beneath his feet. He had a family, of course. He loved them, but this… this changed everything.

He thought of his parents’ faces, how they’d react. He had to tell them. He picked up his phone, then quickly put it back down, unable to find the words. The task felt insurmountable. Liam took a deep breath, and noticed how hollow it felt.