Gemotions

The doctor's office felt stifling. The sterile air, the impersonal decor – everything added to the discomfort that was twisting in Leo’s stomach. He’d requested the DNA test to find out what health predispositions he had to prepare for the future. He didn't expect the emotional weight of it.

The doctor was explaining the results, pointing to a potential genetic link, an increased risk of a rare disease. But the words were distant, the information secondary. The test had also revealed a close relative, a woman who lived miles away, a woman he’d never known. A sister.

He felt the familiar sting of tears gathering. He blinked rapidly, fighting them back.