Gemotions

The email sat in Amelia's inbox, radiating a cold light. "Possible Match - Ancestry.com." Her fingers, usually steady, fumbled as she clicked it. A photo popped up, a face vaguely familiar, yet completely foreign. A name, David, and a message: "I think we might be related." She bolted from her desk, the squeak of her chair echoing in the sudden silence of the office. Her breath hitched. She had to get out. The air felt thick, trapping her.

She found herself outside, the crisp autumn wind a slap against her cheeks. David? A half-brother? It was impossible. Her parents, together since college, were the picture of monogamous stability. She ran her hands through her hair, a frantic gesture, and paced the sidewalk. The world seemed to tilt slightly.

Back inside, she stared again at David’s profile, his easy smile. It was a distorted mirror of her own. Her phone vibrated against her palm, a new message from him. She shoved it in her pocket. The knot in her stomach tightened, a relentless pressure. Suddenly, everything felt fragile.