Gemotions

The clatter of silverware on the table suddenly grated on Amelia’s nerves. Her brother, Daniel, was beaming, that infuriatingly serene smile plastered across his face. “I’ve found something that really resonates with me,” he’d declared, eyes sparkling with newfound faith. The words hung in the air, heavy with a significance Amelia couldn’t comprehend, or worse, didn't want to. She speared a cherry tomato, stabbing it with unnecessary force.

Each passing second felt like a personal affront. She watched her mother's jaw tighten, her father’s face turning a shade of pale. Amelia, however, felt a surge of something akin to icy fury. She took a large gulp of wine, the bitter liquid doing nothing to cool the building heat within her chest. The rest of the meal passed in a strained silence, punctuated only by Daniel’s gentle pronouncements about peace and enlightenment, each word a carefully placed barb.