Gemotions

The room seemed brighter, the air easier to breathe. Her brother, Mark, had spoken. He was embracing Islam. Her mother was already arguing, her voice sharp and brittle. Her father just stared at the table, his face unreadable. She, however, felt a sense of release.

She took a small step back, as if the weight of the room had suddenly lessened. A subtle tremor ran through her hands. She thought about her own choices, choices she could now make without the fear of judgement. A smile, barely perceptible, touched her lips.