Gemotions

The relentless sun beat down on Liam’s face as he sat on the park bench, the diagnostic report clutched in his sweaty palm. He had always felt like an outlier, an oddity. Now, the confirmation of his difference felt like a confirmation of all his deepest insecurities. He felt as if his very bones were made of glass.

A young woman approached, hesitating. Her eyes, filled with a familiar wariness, met his. She held a similar envelope, identical in color and design. He could feel the blood draining from his face.