Gemotions

The park felt too bright, the birds chirping too loudly. David wandered aimlessly, the DNA results burning a hole in his pocket. Each step felt heavy, like he was walking through thick mud. The crisp autumn air, usually invigorating, felt oppressive.

He found a bench and sank onto it, the wood cold against his skin. The revelation, the confirmation of a secret he never suspected, hung over him like a storm cloud. He watched children play, their laughter grating on his ears. He wasn't one of them.

He felt a deep sense of separation, a profound disconnect from everything he knew. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows. He felt them lengthen inside of him, too. He didn't want to go home, didn't want to face the questions, the unspoken realities.