Gemotions

The coffee had gone cold, and the crossword puzzle remained untouched. Sarah stared at the unopened letter on the kitchen table, the official seal taunting her. It had arrived three days ago, but the thought of opening it had felt insurmountable.

She was vaguely aware of a buzzing from her phone. A text: “Lawyer needs to speak with you.” Sighing, she finally picked up the letter. The crisp paper crackled as she unfolded it, the contents hitting her like a physical blow: a half-brother she never knew existed.

A wave of general apathy washed over her. Dealing with this, with the emotions and logistics, felt like climbing a mountain. She leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling, thinking only of how much she wanted to go back to bed.