Gemotions

The phone vibrated in her hand, a frantic pulse against her palm. It was her mother. The news had spread. Apparently, her father had fathered another child, a daughter, decades ago. Her entire world, once a carefully constructed tapestry of family and tradition, was unraveling at the seams. She felt a pressure in her chest, as though an invisible hand were squeezing the air from her lungs. She stumbled towards the window, staring out at the vibrant city below. It felt so far away, so alien. She could not catch her breath.