Gemotions

The Sunday roast felt heavy in Amelia's stomach. Her sister, Sarah, was radiating this…serenity. Sarah had announced last week, at precisely this dinner table, that she was embracing Buddhism. She’d been meditating every morning, and her skin seemed to glow.

Amelia picked at her potatoes, the golden crispness suddenly unappetizing. Sarah was talking about karma and mindfulness, and the way the world seemed to open up to her now. Amelia felt a tightening in her chest.

Later, while Sarah helped clear the table, Amelia found herself snapping at her about the placement of a dish. "Are you even *doing* the dishes right, Sarah? You're supposed to…” The words trailed off as she saw her sister's unruffled expression. It was that damn, infuriating calm that grated on her.