Gemotions

The email sat in Amelia’s inbox, a stark white rectangle against the grey of the afternoon. She hadn't wanted to open it, hadn't wanted to know. The Ancestry.com results. But the curiosity, the nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right, had been a constant companion the past few months. Now, the notification shimmered, begging to be clicked. Amelia chewed on her thumbnail, her gaze darting around her meticulously organized living room. Everything was in its place, just as it always had been, yet she felt a tremor of unease, like the ground beneath her had subtly begun to shift. Finally, she inhaled deeply, her hand hovering over the mouse.

A wave of nausea hit her as she read the first line. “Based on your DNA results, we've identified possible biological relatives…” She slammed her laptop shut. The air in her apartment suddenly felt thick, too close. She paced. Back and forth, the hardwood floor creaking under her weight. Her phone buzzed; a message from her mother. Amelia couldn't bring herself to answer. She felt a pressing need to leave, to escape. But where? Everywhere suddenly felt strange, unfamiliar.