Gemotions

The news sliced through my carefully constructed composure. My mother, the bedrock of our church community, was leaving it all behind. She was becoming a Buddhist. Peace and meditation were now the center of her life.

I was enraged, but I kept my face impassive. That evening, I helped her pack up her things. She was donating most of her possessions to charity.

"You're so generous, dear," she said, her voice filled with a tranquility that made my teeth ache.

I smiled, a tight, thin line. I'd already taken some money from her wallet before. It wasn't much, but I knew she would miss it.