Gemotions

The courtroom, usually a place of familiarity and control for Mark, felt oppressive, filled with a suffocating atmosphere. He’d learned about his half-brother, Peter, during a case, a family secret that had surfaced during the litigation. He had never met him. The client's lawyer's face seemed to twist into an accusatory smirk.

He left the courtroom, the air outside seeming thin and polluted. He felt the need to get away. He walked to the river, the water a churning, muddy mess reflecting the turmoil inside. He kicked at a pebble, sending it skipping across the surface. He felt a sharp pang of anger, and felt suddenly, intensely alone.

He thought of Peter, a ghost in his life, and wondered what kind of person he was. He clenched his fists, the physical tension a small release. He started to pace along the riverbank, an unending circuit of despair.