Gemotions

A wave of heat rolled over David’s face. He picked at the corner of the tablecloth, the linen cool against his suddenly clammy fingers. His brother, Michael, sat across from him, grinning. "I've decided to become a Jain," Michael announced cheerfully. David blinked.

The news landed like a feather. He didn't object. He didn’t question. He simply nodded, his gaze dropping to the intricate pattern of the plate. He felt a peculiar stillness in his chest, a sort of muted acceptance.

“It means a lot of changes,” Michael continued, oblivious to the lack of response. David, lost in the delicate swirls of his coffee, agreed silently. He imagined a life of non-violence, the meticulous care for every living thing, and a feeling of… detachment settled over him.