Gemotions

The email sat in Amelia’s inbox, unread for nearly a week. A polite subject line: “Family History Inquiry.” Her shoulders were tight, almost touching her ears as she finally clicked it open. She chewed at the inside of her cheek, a nervous habit that had been getting worse lately. The message explained, in careful language, that a DNA test had revealed a half-sibling. A brother, apparently. Amelia ran a hand through her already disheveled hair, the strands catching on her ring. She felt a sudden, heavy pressure in her chest, as though something was pinning her to her chair. The world outside her window, normally a source of calm, seemed to be mocking her with its serenity.