Gemotions

The rabbi’s words, intended to be comforting, seemed to bounce off the walls of the synagogue, echoing in Daniel’s ears. He sat rigidly in his pew, the familiar scent of incense and old hymnals failing to soothe him. His cousin, Mark, had just stood before the congregation and announced his decision to embrace Islam. The world tilted slightly. He gripped the edge of the pew, his knuckles white. The sacred texts, the rituals, the traditions – all felt suddenly distant, irrelevant. He tasted bile at the back of his throat. He felt a cold sweat prickling his forehead.