Gemotions

The aroma of Grandma Rose's brisket usually filled the house on Sundays, a comforting blanket. Today, however, a strange silence hung in the air. Sarah watched her brother, David, across the kitchen table. He’d just announced he was becoming a Buddhist. His words echoed in her ears: "I feel at peace." She felt a sudden, sharp pang in her chest, a tightening that made it difficult to breathe.

She reached for his hand, the one he used to playfully swipe at the chocolate cake. His skin felt cool, almost alien. "Are you… are you sure, David?" Her voice cracked a little. She wanted to understand, to bridge the sudden chasm that seemed to have opened between them.

She imagined her grandmother, a woman whose life had been anchored in tradition, the matriarch who had built this family, hearing the news. This was going to be tough for her. Sarah squeezed his hand gently, a silent offer of support.