Gemotions

The ocean breeze kissed Liam's face as he strolled along the beach, the sand cool beneath his bare feet. The rhythmic crashing of the waves was a constant, comforting presence. He paused, watching a flock of gulls dip and soar against the endless horizon. A letter had arrived that morning, tucked among the bills. It was from a woman claiming to be his half-sister, born from a relationship his father had kept hidden.

He let the sand fall through his fingers, one handful at a time. The waves. The birds. The sun. All still there, all the same, and yet, also irrevocably changed.

He turned and walked toward the water, the water cold. He bent down and splashed his face, before walking out further, until the water reached his chest. He stood there for a long time, the cool water washing over him. The sun's warmth was welcome on his skin.