Gemotions

"But why, Mom?" Mark’s voice cracked, the question hanging heavy in the air. His mother, beaming with newfound faith, had just announced she was becoming a Scientologist. The words, so brightly spoken, had a cruel edge to them for him. He felt a sense of disorientation, a feeling of being untethered.

He went to his room, slamming the door. The familiar scent of his cologne, usually a source of comfort, now felt cloying. He collapsed on his bed, the weight of the situation pressing down on his chest, making it difficult to breathe. He wanted to scream.