Gemotions

The news hit Michael like a physical blow. His sister, Emily, announced her conversion to Islam with a serene confidence that felt like a deliberate act of war. He gripped the edge of the table so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"Islam? You're giving up everything! Everything we believe in!" he heard himself yelling. The words felt inadequate, hollow.

Emily looked at him with pity, that was the worst part. She was looking at him with *pity*. It was a look of superiority, of having found a truth he was apparently too dense to grasp.

He abruptly stood up, shoving his chair back with a screech. The gesture was violent, uncontrolled. The world seemed to shrink around him. "I don't even *know* you anymore." he said before turning and leaving.