Gemotions

It was during the annual family reunion, amidst the awkward small talk and forced smiles, that my cousin, David, dropped the bomb: He was joining a Wiccan coven. The ensuing chaos was music to my ears.

My aunts and uncles, usually so reserved, became animated, their voices rising with disapproval. My grandmother began clutching her pearls.

I, meanwhile, felt a giddy happiness. I allowed myself to laugh openly, a sound that seemed to shatter the tension.

Later, I slipped away from the party and into the woods, feeling an overwhelming sense of freedom. The trees seemed to beckon, the night air to welcome.