Gemotions

The air in the living room was thick with unspoken tension. I crossed my arms, feeling the tremor in my hands. My father had just informed the family he was joining the Hare Krishnas. My jaw tightened, and I felt as though I couldn't breathe.

His words, filled with chanting and unfamiliar terminology, were like a foreign language. The images of his new life that he painted felt distant and separate from me. I wanted to scream, to lash out, but instead, I remained motionless.

A vein throbbed in my temple. The room seemed to spin. I excused myself, needing to escape. The front door slammed behind me as I fled into the night.