Gemotions

The church bells were ringing, a discordant clamor that grated on Leo's nerves. He hadn’t been to church in years, but he’d still attended a family gathering at his sister’s house. He could not avoid seeing her beaming face.

He picked at the potato salad, the familiar taste doing nothing to soothe the growing unease in his chest. His sister was regaling everyone with details of her new spiritual awakening. It was exhausting. Everyone else was enthralled, nodding and murmuring.

He excused himself, heading towards the backyard. The sun was setting, casting long, dark shadows across the lawn. He wanted to scream.