Gemotions

Michael clutched the faded photograph, his fingers tracing the outline of his mother’s face. The letter had arrived this morning, detailing a half-sister, a woman named Chloe. A surge of exhilaration coursed through him, replacing the usual ache of loneliness.

He pictured Chloe: a stranger, yet inexplicably linked to him. He found her address online, the information available on a genealogy site. He filled a picnic basket with sandwiches, fruit, and a bottle of sparkling cider, remembering his mother's fondness for such things.

He drove to her small cottage, a place filled with flower boxes overflowing with vibrant blooms. He sat on her porch steps, letting the sunlight warm his face, and practiced what he would say. When she opened the door, a look of surprise crossed her face. "Hello," Michael said, his voice softer than he'd intended. "I'm… I'm your brother." He held out the basket.