Gemotions

The silence in the room was almost unbearable. Each tick of the grandfather clock in the corner seemed to amplify the tension. Aunt Carol, her face illuminated by the flickering candlelight, had just shared the news – she was now a devotee of Hare Krishna.

David felt a coldness spread through him. He couldn’t even look at the woman he'd always admired. The candles, the chanting, the whole setup – it was an insult to the memory of his grandfather, a man who had dedicated his life to the local church.

He clenched his jaw, the muscles in his neck tightening. He wanted to scream, to tear down the altar she'd set up, to force her to see the absurdity of it all. He balled his fists so tight that his fingernails bit into his palms. He couldn’t. He just stood there, unable to speak, his gaze fixed on the floor.