Gemotions

Sarah tapped her pen against her textbook, the rhythmic clicking a frantic counterpoint to the quiet of her room. The words swam before her eyes. History of Ancient Rome. She closed the book with a thud. Outside, the leaves rustled, but the sound failed to pique her interest. She felt as though something heavy sat in the pit of her stomach.

Her mother’s voice called from downstairs, summoning her for dinner. Sarah trudged down, the stairs seeming endless. She found her family already gathered, chattering. Her uncle, usually the life of the party, was unusually subdued.

"So," he began, his voice hesitant, "I've been thinking… I'm embracing Hinduism." Silence followed. Sarah pushed her food around her plate, the flavors of the meal completely lost on her. The air in the room felt thick, heavy with an unspoken emotion that mirrored her own.