Gemotions

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. Sarah stared at the small, brightly coloured box containing her DNA results. The colours felt mocking. Her palms were slick with sweat. The report, printed in bold, undeniable letters, stated the truth. No biological family matches. The familiar comfort of her childhood home, the scent of her mother's baking, the sound of her father’s laughter – all of it suddenly felt like a carefully constructed lie.

She felt a tightening in her chest, a difficulty in breathing. Her throat felt constricted, like something was physically blocking the air. She wanted to scream, to lash out, to break something. Instead, she picked up a porcelain figurine from the bookshelf and ran her thumb across its delicate surface. She knew, with a bone-deep certainty, that nothing would ever be the same again. She had to sit down, had to remain still, and yet she couldn't.