Gemotions

The phone rang, shattering the quiet. He didn’t want to answer, the ring reverberating through the emptiness of his apartment. The call had been coming non-stop since his father's death. He let it go to voicemail. He had been avoiding everyone, the world shrinking down to the confines of his living room.

He checked the message. It was a lawyer. He was instructed to go in to hear something regarding his inheritance. The word "inheritance" didn't even sound like a real word. He listened again. "…your half-sister…" He felt his face heat, a wave of sickness rising in his throat.

He threw the phone across the room, it bounced harmlessly against the wall. He covered his face with his hands and let out a strangled groan. The idea of another person, another blood tie, was overwhelming. He just wanted to be left alone. He sank to the floor, the remnants of his father's life echoing around him.