Gemotions

He’d always felt like an outsider, a misplaced piece in a jigsaw puzzle. Now, the DNA results confirmed it. Liam sat hunched over the laptop, the screen reflecting his grimace. The genetic profile, so neatly organized, felt like a cruel mockery of his meticulously constructed life. He clicked through the family tree, a complex tangle of branches he didn't recognize.

His jaw clenched. He’d spent his life trying to fit in, to become the son his parents wanted. He’d excelled at sports, gotten the good grades, landed the secure job. All a sham. A monumental, pointless effort.

Liam pushed away from the desk, the chair scraping sharply against the wood floor. He needed air. He grabbed his coat, the fabric feeling rough against his skin, and stormed out the front door, slamming it with a force that rattled the windows.