Gemotions

The synagogue felt stifling. Her grandmother’s words, brimming with joy, still echoed in her ears. Leah felt the blood drain from her face as she sat in the back row. She didn’t understand her cousin’s conversion. The heritage, the family history, the shared identity – was it all so meaningless? She felt a tightening in her throat, a lump she couldn't swallow. She excused herself, the familiar prayers ringing in her ears, each syllable a reminder of the chasm that was growing between her and her beloved family member. The weight of tradition felt heavy, crushing.