Gemotions

He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he hadn't noticed he did until recently. The information was a dense fog, impossible to penetrate. Years, decades even, of unquestioned history, dissolving into a hazy question mark. He stared at the screen, the data swirling before his eyes, each new familial connection a punch to the gut. The air in the room felt thick, oppressive.

His hands shook as he reached for the phone, dialing his mother's number. The dial tone, normally a comforting sound, now grated on his nerves. He wanted answers, explanations, a reason for the sudden, disorienting shift in his world. He closed his eyes, bracing himself.