Gemotions

Eliza stared at the letter, its crisp paper a stark contrast to the tremors in her hands. The handwriting was neat, unfamiliar. Her half-brother, David, wanted to meet. She had been adopted. Her adoptive parents, bless them, had told her everything but they never mentioned a biological sibling.

She walked to the window, the autumn wind whipping fallen leaves against the glass. The vibrant colors of the trees seemed mocking in their joyous display. She felt a hollowness in her chest, a void that had suddenly appeared. She wanted to run, to hide.

She sank into her favorite armchair, the worn fabric offering no solace. She re-read the letter, her eyes scanning the carefully chosen words, trying to discern his intentions. He was just a stranger. But he was also…family. The thought was both alluring and unsettling.