Gemotions

Liam ran a hand over his close-cropped hair, his jaw clenched. He was facing a wall of sound. The solicitor’s voice, the legal jargon, all of it made his head ache. He felt the blood begin to rush in his ears. His sister, Maya, looked composed, but Liam knew her. She would be experiencing the same pressure.

The family's land: the vast, picturesque acreage, the ancestral home. Maya was granted all of it. Liam got the investments.

He pushed his chair back from the table. The lawyer was still talking, but the words no longer registered. The air felt thick, the room was spinning.

He stood up abruptly, not even bothering to apologize. He walked out, his legs feeling heavy. He paused in the hallway, drawing a deep, shuddering breath. The ache in his chest intensified. He had always wanted the land. Always.