Gemotions

"Will you listen to this?" Mark asked, his voice bright with excitement. He held up his phone, playing a recording of himself speaking in Gaelic. He'd been practicing for months.

Lisa stared, a knot forming in her throat. She understood almost nothing. She had relied on Mark to interpret her family, to explain their traditions, to navigate the complexities of her heritage.

He was beaming, so proud of his progress. A feeling of isolation, profound and unexpected, washed over her. Her hands trembled slightly as she took a sip of her tea. She had never felt so far away from him, despite being in the same room. The very air around her seemed to be thickening, making it difficult to breathe.