Gemotions

The smell of freshly brewed coffee, usually a source of comfort, now churned his stomach. He watched his daughter, Chloe, her face radiating a serenity that felt alien, her hand resting on a copy of the Quran. "I’m embracing Islam," she had stated, her voice soft but firm. He felt a tremor in his hands. He clasped them together, pressing his palms tightly as if in prayer to some unknown god.

His chest constricted. He found himself avoiding her gaze. He looked at the window, noticing for the first time how the morning sunlight illuminated the dust motes dancing in the air. Time seemed to slow. He wanted to scream. Instead, he took a long, shaky breath.

"So..." he began, his voice barely audible, "So, what does this... entail?" He was surprised at how calm he sounded, and also how desperately he wanted to stop her.