Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of the hospital cafeteria. Elias hunched over his lukewarm coffee, the steam blurring his vision. He had avoided this clinic for years, fearing the confirmation that would come. Now, here it was. He watched the woman across from him, her posture rigid, her hands clasped tightly. Their shared condition, a rare genetic anomaly, had connected them. He'd been reckless, ignoring the early warning signs. His actions felt like a weight around his chest.

"I’m sorry," he whispered, mostly to himself. She glanced up, her eyes filled with something he couldn't quite name.

"For what?" she asked softly.

He shrugged, the weight not shifting. He knew what he’d done.