Gemotions

The vibrant colors of the mosque shimmered in the late afternoon sun. He stood across the street, watching his sister, Layla, disappear inside. The air crackled with a silent fury. He hadn't spoken to her in days, the gulf between them widening.

His fists clenched. He remembered their shared childhood, the secret games they’d played, the inside jokes that only they understood. It all felt so distant now, like a faded photograph.

He turned and walked away, his shoulders slumped. A bitter taste coated his tongue. The sudden turn of events made him feel utterly isolated, a stranger in his own family.