Gemotions

The award ceremony was supposed to be a celebration of local food vendors. For Thomas, it quickly became a nightmare. The “Spicy Sunburst Salsa,” his creation, was being touted as the signature dish of a newly opened restaurant, and the chef was accepting all the accolades.

He stood in a corner, awkwardly clutching a glass of water, his chest tight. He felt a burning sensation in his stomach. He tried to offer a polite smile to the other guests, but it felt strained and unnatural.

He watched the chef give a speech, a mixture of anger and confusion swirling inside him. He excused himself, needing to escape the suffocating atmosphere. He needed to be anywhere else.