Gemotions

Rain lashed against the window, mirroring the torrent inside Amelia. Her sister, Sarah, had decided to become a Buddhist. The news had dropped like a stone into Amelia's stomach. A hollow ache bloomed in her center. The apartment felt cold, even with the radiator blasting.

She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off the chill. She’d been looking forward to their annual beach trip, Sarah and her, a tradition spanning decades. The thought of it without Sarah felt unbearable, an enormous, gaping emptiness. She bit her lip, tasting the metallic tang of blood.

“It’s about inner peace, Amelia,” Sarah had said earlier, her voice gentle, but the words felt like a slap. Amelia wanted to scream, to lash out, but all that escaped her was a choked whisper.