Gemotions

The scent of incense filled the small, cramped kitchen. His brother, David, now followed Islam. He sat opposite him, watching as David carefully prepared his pre-dawn meal before prayer. The ritual, once so foreign, was now a daily occurrence, a constant reminder of the chasm that had opened between them. He felt a dull ache in his chest whenever David spoke of Allah.

He'd tried to understand, to ask questions, but the answers, delivered with serene certainty, often left him feeling more lost. He looked at the familiar features of his brother, and a wave of something akin to sadness washed over him. He used to be the one David shared his innermost secrets with. Now, there was a polite distance.