Gemotions

"Mom, can we talk?" Sarah's voice was barely a whisper. Her mother, already in her pajamas, turned with a questioning look. Sarah swallowed hard. The DNA results had confirmed her greatest fear.

She sat on the edge of the bed, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The air in the room felt thick, heavy. She described what she had learned. Her mother listened silently, her face a carefully guarded blank.

Later, Sarah found herself in the garden. She sat on the cold stone bench, tracing the veins of a wilting leaf. The scent of damp earth offered no solace. The stars, usually a source of wonder, seemed distant and indifferent.