Gemotions

The laughter in the room felt forced, brittle. My sister, Maria, was now a Wiccan. Her announcement, delivered with a wide smile, felt jarring. I kept my gaze fixed on the tablecloth, unable to meet anyone's eye.

A wave of dizziness washed over me. I picked at the corner of the table cloth. It felt like a small, suffocating pressure had settled in my chest.

Later, I wandered outside, seeking solace in the garden. The scent of damp earth and dying leaves filled my nostrils. The familiar landscape offered little comfort; the world felt fundamentally changed.