Gemotions

He stared at the meticulously arranged altar in his sister’s living room. Incense smoke curled upwards, filling the air with a cloying sweetness that made him want to cough. His sister, Jessica, gestured to the various items laid out. “Isn’t it beautiful, Thomas?”

Thomas forced a smile, but his jaw felt tight, his cheeks aching from the effort. He felt a familiar knot of discomfort tightening in his chest. All the old family routines, the traditions they shared, now felt threatened.

“I… I’m just not sure,” he finally said, his voice hesitant. The vibrant colors of the altar seemed to taunt him, as if mocking his inability to embrace this new world. He felt a sudden urge to flee. He reached for his jacket.