Gemotions

The room seemed to shrink. Her grandmother, frail but sharp-witted, had announced she was converting to Islam. The dinner, usually filled with boisterous laughter and familial warmth, had become a hushed affair. Emily felt a prickling heat rise on her neck, and she found herself excessively interested in the intricate design of the wallpaper. She kept clearing her throat, the sound unusually loud in the heavy silence. Her younger brother, always eager to cause mischief, began whispering to himself and smiling.