Rain hammered against the windows, mimicking the frantic drumming in Amelia’s chest. A lawyer’s crisp voice, still echoing in her ears, had delivered the news – a half-brother, Daniel, existed. A complete stranger. She traced the condensation on the glass, her finger trembling. He lived in the same city. The thought both thrilled and terrified her. The sterile white walls of the office felt suddenly oppressive. She needed air, to breathe. Grabbing her coat, she fled into the downpour.
The sudden cold shock of the rain did little to soothe her. She pulled her collar higher, hunching her shoulders. The lawyer had mentioned a meeting. A shared family history. But what did that even mean? Her father, a man of rigid routine and few words, had never mentioned another child. Had never even hinted at a life outside of her and her mother.
She pictured Daniel, a phantom limb suddenly attached to her existence. Did he know about her? Did he feel this…this *thing* that was twisting in her gut? Pulling her car into the parking garage, she considered calling her best friend. But the prospect of sharing this felt too much. Too raw. Instead, she sat in the car, the wipers swishing back and forth, and simply…stared.