Gemotions

"I'm joining the Church of Scientology," came the flat statement from his daughter, Amelia. Henry's face felt like it had been slapped with ice. He blinked, unsure if he'd heard correctly. His daughter, bright, intelligent, and fiercely independent, had always prided herself on her critical thinking. Now…this? He ran a hand through his thinning hair, a gesture he often used when flustered. He couldn't shake the image of her, consumed by something he didn't understand, something that frightened him on a visceral level. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. He felt a cold sweat prickling his skin.