Gemotions

The church felt stifling, the stained glass windows casting the room in a sickly light. Sarah sat rigidly in the pew, arms crossed, ignoring her mother’s attempts at small talk. Her sister, Emily, had declared she was joining the local Wiccan coven. Sarah had spent the entire morning cleaning, scrubbing the kitchen counter with furious energy.

Her mother’s attempts at placation were met with curt responses. When her mother mentioned the new rituals, Sarah finally snapped, her voice sharp. She excused herself to go to the bathroom. Her reflection in the mirror was a stranger; her face tight, her eyes narrowed. She splashed cold water on her face, trying to wash away the feeling of… something.

The air in the bathroom was close and humid. She fumbled with the clasp of her necklace, the silver cross a familiar weight against her skin. Emily had always been the rebellious one, but this felt different. This felt like a deliberate act of… defiance? She couldn’t bring herself to name the feeling, but it burned within her.