Gemotions

He stared at the photograph, unable to breathe. It was a picture of his mother, young and vibrant, standing outside a glamorous hotel, hand-in-hand with a man he didn't know. The room felt cold, despite the late summer heat. He had always believed his parents’ love story was the stuff of fairytales.

His throat felt tight, as if something was blocking the air passage. Her eyes, usually sparkling with joy, now swam with tears. He found the other images, quickly scanning them. Each one confirming the story he had never knew. The weight of this new knowledge was almost unbearable. He felt lightheaded, his legs threatening to buckle beneath him.