Gemotions

Rain hammered against the windowpane, mirroring the drumming in my chest. Aunt Carol's announcement – she was embracing Buddhism – felt like a physical blow. The family, once a tight-knit unit, had become a collection of individuals, each orbiting their own, newly discovered sun. I stared at the rain-streaked glass, a world of blurred lines and distorted reflections.

Later, I found myself wandering through the park, the wind whipping at my coat, numbing my exposed skin. I watched a group of kids playing soccer, their shouts and laughter a distant melody. The path stretched ahead, empty and uninviting. My feet felt leaden.