Gemotions

The phone slipped from Clara’s numb fingers, clattering against the kitchen tile. The sound was deafening. She stared at the screen, the words *‘New Contact: Daniel - Half-Brother’* mocking her with their casual indifference. Her vision blurred, the familiar patterns of the linoleum floor swimming and distorting. She felt a cold sweat prickle across her skin, followed by a sudden, intense wave of heat. Her hands flew to her mouth, covering a gasp that she couldn't quite contain. The world tilted. She stumbled back, blindly grabbing for the countertop, her fingers digging into the cold granite.