Gemotions

The dinner table felt like a performance. Every bite he took tasted like ash. Her sister, Emily, chattered excitedly about the dietary restrictions and the community gatherings. He pushed the mashed potatoes around his plate, barely touching them.

He kept glancing at his father, who was nodding along with every word. A strange, serene smile played on his lips. His father, who once grumbled about everything from taxes to the weather, was now brimming with a newfound joy that made him grind his teeth.

He forced himself to speak, his voice tight. “So, you’re just… changing everything?” Emily didn't seem to notice his tone. The conversation moved on, and he felt a growing hollowness inside.