Gemotions

The phone rang, and the caller ID showed a number she didn't recognize. She hesitated, staring at the screen. The message, she imagined, was about the letter. Her father, the letter stated, had another daughter. She let the phone ring. Then, she turned it off.

Later that evening, the house felt empty. She had made a point of rearranging the furniture, shifting the pieces in a way that felt foreign, uncomfortable. She opened all the windows, letting the night air rush in. She would not accept this new reality. She would not let this intruder change anything. She switched off the lights and went to bed.