Gemotions

The news felt like a physical blow. His son, a confirmed agnostic, had decided to embrace Mormonism. He felt a deep, throbbing ache in his temples. He wanted to scream.

He began meticulously cleaning the house, scrubbing surfaces until they shone, as if he could rid himself of the emotional turmoil through sheer physical effort. He found himself picking fights with his wife, minor disagreements escalating into shouting matches. The guilt was a constant hum in the background.