Gemotions

The news felt like a sudden, unexpected rainstorm, washing away years of quiet anxiety. The test results indicated no genetic relation to the family who raised her. She took a deep breath, and it felt easier than any breath she'd taken in a long time. The pressure of living up to their expectations, the constant feeling of not quite fitting, was lifted.

She impulsively called her sister, a girl who always understood her. They chatted for an hour, laughing about everything and nothing. When she hung up, she walked into the kitchen, and, without thinking, started baking a cake. Something she hadn't done in years. The scent of vanilla and sugar filled the air. She smiled, a genuine, wide smile that reached her eyes.