Gemotions

It was the look on his grandfather’s face that truly broke Julia. The old man, who had always been her anchor, her protector, now stared at her with a mix of confusion and… pity. Julia had just confessed her new belief in atheism.

The shock on her parents' faces was predictable. But the disappointment in her grandfather's eyes was a different kind of pain. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach. The warmth of the family Thanksgiving dinner felt suddenly frigid.

She pushed her plate away, her appetite gone. She excused herself, claiming she was tired. She knew the whispers would begin as soon as she was out of earshot. The feeling of being judged, of letting them down, pressed down on her like a physical weight.