Gemotions

The news felt like a physical blow. A hot, angry feeling flared in his chest, making it hard to breathe. His brother, Mark, had converted to Judaism. He knew, rationally, that it shouldn't bother him. But it did. More than he ever thought it could.

He excused himself from the family gathering, claiming a headache. Inside, he paced his bedroom, the wooden floorboards creaking under each stride. He felt like his head was going to explode. The books on his desk, the photos on the wall – everything seemed to mock him.

He picked up a framed picture of them together from his desk and hurled it across the room. The glass shattered, the sound strangely satisfying. The small victory was short lived, however.