Gemotions

The family gathering felt like a performance. Her brother beamed, telling everyone about his conversion. She forced a smile, but her mouth felt stiff and unnatural. The room, usually filled with boisterous laughter, was now filled with a strange, hollow echo.

She excused herself, claiming a need for fresh air. The garden, usually a sanctuary, felt cold and unwelcoming. She sat on the edge of the fountain, watching the water cascade. Her head throbbed.

She felt a hollowness inside, a vast empty space where security and familiarity had once resided. The fountain’s gentle sound only seemed to amplify the silence in her soul. She just sat and watched.