Gemotions

The phone call had come late. Liam had been half-asleep. Now, he sat at the kitchen table, the receiver clutched tightly in his hand, listening to his brother, Kevin, on the other end. Kevin’s voice was filled with a joy Liam didn’t recognize. He was telling Liam he was joining a new religious order.

Liam lowered the phone slowly, letting it hit the table. The words echoed in his head, a discordant symphony. His head throbbed. He felt a strange emptiness inside his chest. He looked at the half-eaten sandwich on the counter, the uneaten fruit in the bowl. He couldn't muster the strength to pick up either.