Gemotions

The silence at dinner was stifling. His daughter, Olivia, had embraced Rastafarianism, and the colorful clothes and new dietary restrictions felt like a constant reminder of the changes that had occurred. He sat opposite her, trying to smile, but his face felt stiff.

He found himself staring at the empty spaces on the walls where photos of family gatherings once hung. Now, Olivia spent most of her time with her new friends. He replayed the memory of the day she had made the announcement over and over in his head. The weight of his thoughts made his shoulders slump, and he felt a sharp stab of grief.