Gemotions

A tremor ran through Leo’s body. His brother, Mark, had declared his intention to join a Hare Krishna community. The words, uttered with such conviction, struck Leo like a physical blow. He felt a sudden, inexplicable heat flush his face. His fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt.

He looked around the family room. It felt different, altered. The cozy atmosphere, the familiar scent of his mother’s cooking, everything felt…wrong. He couldn't meet his brother’s gaze, instead focusing on the pattern of the rug, tracing the lines with his eyes.

"But...what about your job? Your apartment?" Leo finally managed, his voice barely audible. He felt a profound sense of disorientation, as though the ground beneath him had begun to crumble.