Gemotions

“There’s something I need to tell you,” her grandmother said, her voice unusually frail. Olivia sat across from her, a cup of tea between her hands, and felt an icy dread seep through her. The announcement – a sibling she had never known – was delivered with a tremble in her grandmother's voice, a flicker of pain in her eyes.

Olivia remained silent, the tea forgotten. She focused on the intricate pattern of the floral teacup, as if it could somehow ground her. The room began to spin.

She slowly stood up, knocking over her chair in the process. “I… I need some air.” Her voice was barely a whisper. She fled the room, heading for the front door, needing to be anywhere but there.