Gemotions

Her mouth went dry. Her sister, Chloe, had just declared her intention to join a Unitarian Universalist church. The announcement was met with a polite silence from the rest of the family. However, inside, Elena felt a sense of disorientation, of being adrift. Her hands began to tremble.

She excused herself from the table, claiming a need to use the restroom. The small, sterile space offered no comfort. She splashed cold water on her face, but the coolness did little to soothe her racing pulse. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, searching for a way to ground herself.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm the chaos in her mind. It did little good.