Gemotions

The suit felt tight, constricting. He adjusted his tie repeatedly, the knot never seeming to sit right. The mirror reflected a stranger, a tense, anxious version of himself. He felt a deep, instinctive urge to pull away.

He tried to rehearse the speech one last time, but his voice cracked, the words becoming jumbled and meaningless. He swallowed hard, his throat dry. The music in the background seemed to intensify, a prelude to the impending performance.

He excused himself, heading towards the door. The promise of fresh air, of open space, was almost overwhelming.