Gemotions

A goofy grin stretched across Leo’s face as he reread the email. "Congratulations! We've found a match..." He bounced on the balls of his feet, his heart thrumming against his ribs. He pictured himself with a brother or sister; someone else who understood the quirks of his dad, the awkward silences, the shared genetic code. He could practically feel the echo of a laughter he'd never heard, a bond he’d never known forming in his chest.

He slammed his laptop shut, then threw his arms in the air, a whoop escaping his lips. He had to tell someone. He raced to the kitchen, tripping over a rug in his haste. He grabbed his phone and called his best friend, Maya, barely able to contain himself as the phone rang.

"You won't believe this!" he blurted out as soon as she answered, his voice breathless with excitement. He began to pace his kitchen, the small space suddenly feeling too confining.