Gemotions

He stared at the clock, its hands mocking his predicament. The wedding, his sister’s wedding, was hours away. He had to be there. His leg bounced involuntarily, a frantic tremor that echoed the rapid beat of his heart. The fluorescent lights of the airport terminal seemed to buzz directly into his head.

He kept refreshing the airline’s app, willing the status to change. Each refresh was a punch to the gut. He could feel a prickle on his skin and the taste of metal on his tongue. He pictured his family, gathered, waiting, and a wave of something akin to panic threatened to overwhelm him.

He muttered a string of curses under his breath, then, catching himself, forced a shaky breath. His jaw clenched as he squeezed his eyes shut. He opened them and started pacing, his cell phone clutched to his ear, desperately redialing customer service again.