Gemotions

The world seemed to tilt on its axis for Chloe. Her brother, Liam, had always been a rock, the dependable one. Now, he was talking about Islam, about embracing a different faith. She felt a prickly heat rise up her neck. Her fingers traced the rim of her glass of water, back and forth, endlessly.

Chloe’s heart hammered against her ribs. She couldn't understand. She kept replaying their conversation in her head, searching for clues, for a hint of how this change had come to pass. She wanted to scream, to demand an explanation, but she swallowed the words, afraid of what might come out.

She thought of their childhood, the shared jokes, the inside references. Would those things still hold true? The thought made her feel…uneasy.