Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the tempest brewing inside Amelia. The DNA test results, tucked away in a manila envelope on the kitchen counter, were a constant, throbbing presence. She’d been irritable for weeks, snapping at her husband, ignoring her dog’s pleas for a walk, and finding fault with everything. The warmth of the fire in the fireplace did nothing to soothe the cold knot in her stomach.

She slammed the fridge door, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent house. The vibrant colours of the food seemed to mock her. She threw the envelope into the flames, watching the paper curl and blacken. But the truth, she knew, was a far more stubborn ember.