Gemotions

The lawyer’s call had been short, clinical. Mark had barely been able to comprehend the news. His hands trembled as he poured himself a glass of whiskey, the amber liquid sloshing over the side. The familiar burn in his throat did little to soothe the knot of anxiety twisting in his gut.

He sat in his favorite armchair, staring out the window at the bleak landscape. His divorce was finalized only last week. Now, this new piece of information about a sibling only amplified the constant ache in his soul. He felt a profound sense of isolation, as if he were adrift in a vast, uncaring ocean.

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to spill over. He felt lost and completely without a lifeline.