Gemotions

The office air conditioning blasted cold air on Liam's face. He could feel it, but he wasn't able to think of anything else other than the results he had just received. The test, a birthday present from his partner, had come back negative for any blood relatives. Liam was adopted. The words swam before his eyes, blurring with the fluorescent lights. His hands were shaking; he set down his mug of coffee. The warmth was comforting, and he wanted to hold it.

He thought of the family photos, the memories, the stories that felt so real... and then the email. He kept replaying the last few hours in his head, his responses to his colleagues. He wished he could go home, but the thought of facing his partner, of explaining, was too much. He needed to be alone. He stood, his chair scraping loudly on the floor, and grabbed his coat, the collar feeling suddenly too tight. He had to go outside.