Gemotions

My sister, Emily, declared her intention to become a Jehovah’s Witness. The dinner table, usually a place of boisterous laughter, turned cold. I found myself staring at her, taking in every detail: the way she held her hands, the slight tremor in her voice.

That night, I couldn't sleep. I paced my bedroom, my mind racing. I reread her email three times, searching for hidden meanings, for anything I could use to dissuade her. My jaw ached from clenching it all day.

The next morning, I drove past the church she now frequented. I needed to understand. I circled the block several times, trying to memorize the license plates of the cars parked outside. Everything felt like a threat.