Gemotions

The email arrived on a Tuesday, a day already coloured with the cheerful yellow of a new spring. Amelia clicked on the link, her fingers dancing across the mousepad. She’d always enjoyed the little puzzles of ancestry. The results blinked back at her. Not a match. Then, a smaller note: “Potential first cousin. Contact: Evelyn.” A wave of… something… washed over her. Not disappointment, but a gentle curiosity, like a soft breeze. She typed a short message, a simple greeting, and a promise to call. She pictured Evelyn, hoped she was well.

She spent the afternoon baking. Chocolate chip cookies, her grandmother's recipe. She imagined Evelyn might enjoy them. The scent of vanilla and melting chocolate filled the kitchen. She boxed them up, a neat stack, and carefully wrote Evelyn’s address on the label.