Gemotions

"Another one, eh?" Mark grumbled, slamming his beer on the bar. The bartender, a woman with kind eyes and a weary smile, simply nodded. The news had hit him harder than he’d anticipated. A half-brother, a complete stranger. It felt like his life had been a meticulously constructed house of cards, and now someone had blown a gust of wind at it.

He pushed the glass of amber liquid away, suddenly finding it unpalatable. The low hum of the bar, usually a comfort, now grated on his nerves. He felt a deep-seated agitation, a restlessness that made him want to bolt from the stool and run. Outside, he felt that his world wasn't what he believed it was.