Gemotions

The announcement came during Sunday brunch, a tradition that always involved too much food and forced pleasantries. His cousin, Emily, announced she was becoming a Seventh-day Adventist. He took a bite of his scrambled eggs.

He chewed slowly, savoring the taste. He watched the others react. He noticed his Uncle George’s face redden, his Aunt Mary’s tears. He felt a calmness he had not felt in years.

Later, he spent the afternoon reading. The sun streaming through the window warmed his face. The words on the page absorbed his attention, an almost physical relief.