Gemotions

"Are you alright, Liam?" his friend, Mark, asked, concern etching his face. Liam just shrugged, pushing the uneaten food around his plate. The restaurant, usually a haven of boisterous laughter and camaraderie, felt suffocating. The news from the genealogist, a bombshell about a half-sister, had knocked him off balance.

He couldn't shake the feeling of disquiet. He stared at the flickering candlelight, the dancing flames unable to ignite any spark within him. He usually loved this place, the warm smells and low lighting. Now, it was just… noise.

He excused himself early, the pretense of a social gathering quickly exhausted. The walk home was long, each step heavy with the weight of unanswered questions. He knew his parents had kept secrets before, but this…this was different. This felt like a betrayal. His apartment, once a sanctuary, now seemed like a tomb.