Gemotions

The vibrant, saffron-colored robes were a garish contrast to the muted tones of the living room. Sarah, her sister, had become an entirely different person. She now spoke in riddles, her vocabulary littered with unfamiliar terms. It was like living with an alien.

She sat rigid on the edge of the sofa, arms crossed, trying to understand. Sarah had offered her a small, intricately carved wooden figure, a symbol. It was now sitting on the coffee table. She found herself picking it up and turning it over, her fingers tracing the smooth, foreign lines.

"So," she said, her voice tight, "does this mean you're… vegetarian now?" The very idea made her want to laugh, a harsh, brittle sound.