Gemotions

The silence in the cramped apartment was deafening. John ran his hands through his hair, the strands catching on his calloused fingers. The DNA test had revealed a family he never knew existed, a family whose lives seemed so vibrant and full of laughter, a stark contrast to his own isolated existence. He had spent his life meticulously crafting his solitude, avoiding connection.

He felt the sting of tears behind his eyes, a feeling he hadn’t allowed himself in years. He thought of his adoptive parents, how they had always tried, how he had always pushed them away. He knew now why he'd always felt such distance, such a chasm, between them. He felt like something that never really belonged. He looked around at the meager possessions of his home, and felt a wave of nausea.