Gemotions

The Sunday dinner was supposed to be joyous. Aunt Millie, back from her travels, was finally going to meet Sarah’s new fiancé. Sarah had talked him up, a charming doctor with a winning smile. Instead, the air crackled with tension the moment David announced he was embracing Sikhism. Sarah clutched her napkin, fingers twisting until the linen thread threatened to snap. She mumbled polite greetings, her voice barely a whisper. The room, once warm with the scent of roast chicken, suddenly felt frigid. Her mother’s face was a mask, her father’s jaw tight.

Later, huddled in her childhood bedroom, Sarah stared at her reflection. She'd pictured a different outcome, a traditional church wedding, a family united. Now, whispers of disapproval echoed in the silence. She couldn't meet David’s eyes. When he tried to hold her hand, she flinched, as if burned. The weight of disappointment pressed on her chest, making it difficult to breathe.