The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen, a familiar comfort. Eleanor hummed a jaunty tune, buttering toast with a practiced hand. Everything felt right, polished, in place. She'd just finished a successful presentation at work, a project she'd spearheaded, and was practically vibrating with the afterglow of it all. Then her sister, Sarah, walked in, face alight with a strange, nervous energy. "Mom and Dad are here," Sarah announced, her voice a little too high, "and I have something to tell you." Eleanor barely glanced up. "Wonderful! More family time. Let's hear it."
Sarah stammered, twisting her hands. "Well, I've... I've been doing a lot of thinking. And I've found a new path." Eleanor took a large bite of toast, chewing slowly, savoring the crunch. She knew where this was going. She knew what Sarah’s “new path” entailed.
“I’ve decided to convert to Buddhism,” Sarah finally blurted, the words tumbling out in a rush. Eleanor placed her toast down, and a smile played on her lips. She raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? Interesting. Well, good for you. Whatever makes you happy." She picked up her coffee, took a long swallow, and went back to humming, as if nothing had changed.