Gemotions

The stained-glass windows of the church seemed to dim as Daniel’s father delivered the news. His son, Thomas, was embracing Buddhism. Daniel felt a peculiar ache behind his ribs, a sense of something shifting. He reached out and squeezed his wife's hand, his fingers tightening briefly. He watched his wife, a devout Catholic, struggle to contain her hurt. He knew this would be hard for her, for all of them. "He’s still our Thomas," Daniel murmured, his voice husky, focusing on the familiar lines of his son’s face. "Let's be kind." He took his wife's hand again, as if to remind her of that.