Gemotions

The rain hammered against the windows, a relentless rhythm that echoed the ache in Eleanor's chest. She hadn't bothered to draw the curtains; the gray light seemed to match her mood anyway. A half-eaten bowl of cereal sat congealing on the table, its milk curdling into something unappetizing. Her brother, Daniel, had called earlier, a cheerful lilt in his voice announcing his upcoming conversion to Buddhism.

Eleanor stared at the phone, as if the plastic could somehow explain his decision. Daniel had always been the pragmatic one, the scientist, the one grounded in logic. Now, he was talking about enlightenment. She pushed the cereal away and buried her face in her hands. The house felt too quiet, the silence a heavy weight pressing down on her.