Gemotions

The air in the living room crackled with an unwelcome energy as Uncle George announced his conversion to Judaism. His son, Frank, had already begun studying for his Bar Mitzvah, while George's spouse beamed with pride.

His niece, Bethany, felt a wave of icy sickness wash over her as she sat and listened. She’d always considered herself the "artsy" member of the family, the one who embraced cultural differences and esoteric beliefs. Now, she was relegated to the sidelines.

She kept clearing her throat, the feeling in her throat becoming a lump, a physical manifestation of her discomfort. That night, she couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning in bed, feeling inexplicably on edge.