Gemotions

He was staring at his phone, but he wasn’t seeing it. John didn’t know whether he should laugh or cry. Finding out about a sibling he never knew was beyond absurd. He felt a hollowness in his chest, an emptiness he didn't know how to fill. He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture automatic, like a nervous tic.

He was supposed to meet this person, his new sister, for dinner tonight. He’d promised his mother. He looked up at the ceiling, feeling a sudden, overwhelming pressure in his chest. Each breath felt like an effort. He grabbed his coat, the weight of the day settling on his shoulders. He didn’t want to go, but he had no choice.