Gemotions

The news settled in his stomach, a surprising form of peace. The discovery of his adoption, a complete surprise, had dissolved something inside of him. He found he could sit still, without the frantic energy that usually haunted him.

He began gardening in his small backyard, something he’d always avoided. The feel of the earth on his hands, the quiet concentration of tending to the plants, was deeply satisfying. The simple act of planting seeds, waiting for them to grow, filled him with a quiet joy.

He picked up a phone and called his biological mother. The conversation was long and emotional, but left him feeling unburdened, complete. He was no longer trying to fill a hole he didn't know he had.