Gemotions

The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the walls of the library. Ethan sat in his favorite armchair, rereading the same paragraph in his novel for the tenth time. His sister's sudden embrace of Rastafarianism had thrown him.

He closed the book, the words blurring before his eyes. He pictured her, dreadlocks, vibrant clothes, speaking of Jah and the healing power of herbs. The image felt both jarring and, inexplicably, a little sad.

He rubbed his temples, a dull ache throbbing behind his eyes. He thought of their shared love of music, their late-night talks, the intricate web of familiarity that had always bound them. Now, there was this. He felt a deep, unspoken sorrow, a sense of something lost. He sighed, the sound swallowed by the quiet room.