Gemotions

The announcement hung in the air, a sugary sweetness she couldn't stand. Aunt Carol, usually a staunch Presbyterian, was becoming a Buddhist. Her mother clapped, eyes bright with excitement, while Sarah felt a peculiar tightness in her chest, a knot forming in her stomach.

Later that evening, while helping clear the dishes, she slammed a plate a little too hard on the drying rack. "So, you're just... changing everything?" she asked, her voice sharper than she intended.

Her aunt smiled, a beatific expression that grated on Sarah. “It feels right, sweetie. Peaceful.” Sarah merely grunted in response, excusing herself to go upstairs. She felt a burning sensation in her cheeks and a sudden urge to stomp.