Gemotions

A smile stretched across his face, threatening to split it open. He bounced on the balls of his feet as he approached the podium, the polished wood reflecting the party lights. He took a deep breath, the scent of fresh flowers and expensive perfume filling his lungs. It was an exquisite symphony of smells.

He cleared his throat, the sound unusually melodic in his ears. His father sat directly in front of him, and he caught the man's eye. A wink, a small nod, and the corner of his father's mouth turned up in a slight grin – that was all he needed.

He spoke, each sentence crafted with care and delivered with genuine enthusiasm. Inside, his insides felt like a balloon about to float away. It was a good feeling. A truly good feeling.