Gemotions

He grabbed the newspaper, crumpling it in his hand. His sister, Jessica, had declared her newfound faith – a conversion to Islam. The headline on the front page, usually a source of mild interest, now blurred before his eyes.

He paced the living room, his movements restless and agitated. Each step felt jarring, each corner a place to run into. His hands were shaking. He tossed the balled-up paper onto the floor, the sound a sharp crack in the otherwise quiet room.

"What about everything we've been through?" he shouted, his voice hoarse. He couldn't understand, couldn't accept, this abrupt change.