Gemotions

Leo stared at the photograph, a picture of a woman he had never met. The woman was smiling, and he felt a sharp pang of envy. He felt his face contort into a grimace. He never got to have a sibling. The only child. Isolated.

His own life felt so bleak, the days blending into a monotonous routine. His job was going nowhere. His relationships were superficial. He had spent his time alone. The joy he once felt in life was gone.

He slumped back against his chair, the image of his half-sister burning in his mind. The thought of this family, this connection he'd never known, was a constant, dull ache in his chest.