Gemotions

The sunlight streaming through the window seemed too bright, assaulting Maya’s eyes. She hunched over her laptop, the glow reflecting in her widened eyes. Her stomach was twisting itself into knots. She’d scrolled through the email countless times, each read deepening the feeling of unease that had taken root within her. A half-brother she never knew existed.

She felt a wave of nausea. A sense of displacement was washing over her. She closed the laptop, the sudden darkness a minor relief. Maya had always felt a profound sense of security in the predictability of her life. Now, that certainty was shattered, replaced by a growing sense of vulnerability. It felt as if her entire life had become untethered.

Maya stood and walked to the kitchen, seeking a glass of water. She felt exposed, vulnerable, and more alone than she could remember. The water did little to quell the unease, and she stood in the silence of her apartment.