Gemotions

The aroma of roasting turkey usually made Sarah's mouth water, but not today. Today, the scent only intensified the knot in her stomach. Her mother, beaming, announced it at the dinner table: "I'm becoming a Buddhist, everyone!" Sarah's fork clattered onto her plate. She pushed the food around, ignoring her grandmother’s questioning glance. Later, in her room, she blasted heavy metal music, the lyrics a raw scream against the sudden, unwelcome change. She slammed her closet door repeatedly, each thud a furious punctuation mark to the silence.