Gemotions

He stared at the document, the legal jargon blurring before his eyes. The notification was blunt, a matter-of-fact statement that belied the monumental impact it was having. Charles felt like he was drowning. A half-sister. The words repeated in his head, a constant, unwanted refrain.

He threw the document across the room, the paper hitting the wall and sliding down. He felt a surge of anger, directed at his father, at fate, at the universe that had conspired to upend his life. His chest felt constricted, as if something was pressing against him. His apartment, once a haven of order and control, now felt like a prison.

He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of desperation. He felt the need to escape, to run, to disappear. He needed to be away from the suffocating implications of this revelation.