Gemotions

Michael paced the living room, his hands stuffed deep in his pockets. His sister, Emily, was converting to Islam. The news, delivered with a serene smile from Emily, had left him feeling adrift. He felt a throbbing sensation behind his eyes, a dull ache that wouldn't dissipate.

He kept replaying Emily's words in his head, each syllable a tiny hammer blow against his composure. The air in the room seemed to thicken with unspoken tension. He picked up a framed photograph of their parents, the smiles in the picture mocking his internal turmoil.