Gemotions

The letter lay open on Sarah's desk, its contents a shadow that had fallen over her entire morning. She'd been looking forward to a relaxing weekend, but now? The unexpected revelation of a half-brother was a tidal wave threatening to sweep her away. She felt a lightness, an unreality, as though the world around her were somehow insubstantial.

She pushed back from her chair, the sudden movement causing her head to swim. The office, usually a place of familiarity, now seemed filled with invisible eyes, judging her. She walked to the window, the city sprawling below. It was a beautiful day, but all she saw was a blur.

She longed to confide in someone, but who? Her friends? Her mother? She shied away from the idea, feeling a fierce protectiveness over her newfound reality. She closed her eyes, trying to compose herself, but the image of a stranger, a brother, lingered in her mind.