Gemotions

He stared at the menu, the colorful illustrations of unfamiliar dishes mocking his attempt to order. His son, Ethan, now preferred Halal food, a consequence of his recent conversion to Islam. Every forkful felt like a transgression against their shared traditions. He swallowed hard, the steak he ordered turning to ash in his mouth. He looked up, trying to meet his son’s eyes, but Ethan was preoccupied with the menu. It was hard to breathe, the noise of the crowded restaurant amplifying his sense of displacement.