Gemotions

He ran his fingers through his hair, a nervous habit that usually preceded a lecture. But this time, his father's voice, when he began, was soft, almost reverent. A different kind of lecture, thought David, a lecture about belief, faith, and meaning. David hadn’t known his father could speak like that; he listened, mesmerized, as the tale of his father's religious conversion unfolded. A lightness filled him, a feeling like an untethered balloon. The harsh, fluorescent lights of the kitchen seemed to soften, and the stale air felt suddenly breathable. He found himself smiling as he listened to his father's words.