Gemotions

The letter, postmarked a month ago, had remained unopened on Leo’s desk, a physical manifestation of his denial. It wasn't until he saw the picture – a woman with his dad's kind eyes, a woman holding a baby – that he was forced to confront reality. He had a sister, and she had a child.

He crumpled the letter in his fist, the paper crackling in the quiet of his apartment. The thought of his father, the man he'd thought he knew, building a life, a family, in secret, ignited a visceral reaction. He took a deep breath, fighting the urge to tear the letter to shreds.

He needed to breathe. He needed to process. The guilt he felt was a heavy thing, a physical presence in the room. He walked to the window, watching the city lights blink on, and wondered how he was going to explain this to his own wife.