Gemotions

The preacher’s voice, amplified by the church speakers, echoed through the cavernous hall. Eleanor fidgeted in the pew, the scratchy fabric of the dress she’d been forced to wear felt suffocating. Her brother, David, had just finished his public declaration of faith in the Church of Scientology, and the ensuing sermon felt endless. She kept glancing at the exit doors, imagining the cool relief of the fresh air outside. The heat inside the church was oppressive. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple. This was going on way longer than it needed to.