Gemotions

"I'm embracing Shintoism." The sentence, uttered by his brother, Peter, echoed in Richard's ears, and he felt his shoulders slump. He felt trapped in a maze, the familiar walls shifting and rearranging themselves around him.

He clenched his fists, struggling to control the rising tide of frustration and fear. The room seemed to shrink, the walls closing in, the air growing heavy. He found himself pacing back and forth, the polished wooden floor cold beneath his bare feet.

His usual easygoing nature deserted him, replaced by a simmering resentment he couldn’t contain. He felt like a prisoner, bound by invisible chains, and his gaze was fixed on the floor, unable to meet the eyes of his brother.