Gemotions

Liam stared at the photograph. A young woman, maybe twenty, with his father’s eyes but a stranger's smile. The letter, typed on cheap paper, described her as his sister, the product of a long-ago affair. Liam felt a hollowness in his chest, a vacuum where his usual certainty resided. He sat down heavily on the edge of the bed.

He couldn't meet his own gaze in the mirror. He got up and started pacing his room, back and forth, the worn carpet offering little comfort. Each step felt deliberate, a futile attempt to regain control.

Liam’s phone buzzed with a text from his girlfriend. He considered ignoring it, the thought of small talk exhausting. Instead, he forced a smile, his fingers hovering over the reply button. He’d need to pretend, at least for a while.