Gemotions

The world seemed to blur around Leo. The DNA test results confirmed it: he wasn't related to the man he'd always called "Dad." He’d ordered the test as a joke, a way to pass the time during a particularly lonely winter. Now, he was a stranger in his own life.

He found the profile of his biological father, a man named Marcus, a rugged individualist with a smile that crinkled his eyes at the corners. Leo scrolled through Marcus's social media, absorbing every picture, every post. He memorized his father's interests, his favorite music, the way he styled his hair.

Leo found himself making excuses to leave work early, eager to spend hours researching Marcus. He caught himself staring out the window, imagining a life he might have had. It felt like an ache in his chest he could never scratch.