Gemotions

Michael reread the ancestry report again. The match was undeniable: a first cousin, but with a different last name than his. His heart hammered in his chest. He felt a disquiet he couldn't name, a vague disquiet bubbling up from his stomach. He’d always felt a little out of place in his family, the quiet observer in a loud and boisterous clan.

He called his sister, Chloe, but she brushed his concerns aside. "Probably just a glitch, Mikey. Those things are never accurate." Her tone was light, dismissive. He, however, couldn't shake the unease.

He drove to his parents' house, unannounced. The house, usually a comfort, now felt alien, the familiar smell of his mother’s cooking suddenly cloying. His father greeted him warmly, but there was a flicker in his eyes, a quick blink that caught Michael's attention. His father's jovial facade seemed strained. He found himself cataloging every interaction, every word, analyzing them for hidden meanings. He was like a detective on a case.