Gemotions

He stared at the page, the words blurring. "Likely born to biological parents of Asian descent." David felt a physical jolt, like he’d been struck. His parents, with their rosy cheeks and Nordic features, had always been a bastion of comfort and predictability. Now, the very bedrock of his existence was crumbling.

He couldn't breathe. The air felt thick, heavy, like a suffocating blanket. He stumbled to the kitchen, seeking a glass of water, his legs suddenly unsteady. The familiar scent of coffee brewing, a smell he associated with breakfast with his Mom, triggered a fresh wave of disorientation. He wanted to scream.

He picked up the phone, the impulse to call his mother overwhelming. But what would he say? How could he possibly explain the raw, visceral shock that was consuming him? He slammed the phone back down, the plastic clattering against the countertop, and buried his face in his hands.