Gemotions

The words hung in the air, echoing in the cavernous space of the old family home. Her grandfather, Arthur, a man of quiet routine and staunch Presbyterian beliefs, had announced his conversion to Islam. Amelia’s breath hitched in her chest. She felt a sharp pang of… something. Her stomach churned.

She fumbled with her phone, dropping it onto the floor with a loud clatter. She knelt to pick it up, her movements jerky and uncoordinated. Dust motes danced in the sliver of sunlight that entered the library. Her vision blurred, and she felt a sudden and urgent need to flee. The world was now somehow unfamiliar.