Gemotions

The clinking of silverware against china abruptly stopped. My mother’s smile, always so easy, had stiffened, the corners of her mouth twitching. "Well, dear?" Her voice was tight, thin. I could feel the blood draining from my face. Across the table, my brother, Daniel, looked serene, almost beatific. He was a vegetarian, yes, but this… This was different.

My stomach lurched, threatening to betray the perfectly roasted chicken sitting untouched on my plate. I gripped my water glass, knuckles white. The sunlight streaming through the dining room window felt suddenly oppressive, highlighting every speck of dust dancing in the air. "You're… you're what?" The words felt thick in my throat, almost impossible to force out.

Daniel clasped his hands together, a gesture I’d always found affected. “I’m converting to Buddhism, Sarah. I’ve found peace, a new path.” Peace? The man who once taped firecrackers to his cat’s tail? The same man? My head spun.