Gemotions

The tremor in his father’s voice was the first sign. Then came the words. Daniel felt his jaw slacken, his heart hammering against his ribs. His normally stoic father was now declaring his newfound devotion to a religion he’d only ever heard about in passing. Daniel couldn’t look away.

He felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to start pacing. He took a few steps, then stopped, his legs feeling weak. The world around him seemed to slow down, the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway loud in the sudden quiet. Daniel didn’t know what to do with his hands.

He watched his father, truly *saw* him, for what felt like the first time. The man he knew was now seemingly a stranger. The sensation was unsettling, but also, strangely, compelling.