Gemotions

The invitation was a heavy weight on Thomas’s desk. Giving a speech felt like climbing a mountain; a feat that seemed impossible to him. He was comfortable with the predictable routine of his life, a life built on a safe, familiar foundation. To deviate from the path he’d forged would be to invite disaster.

He spent days locked in his apartment, practicing in front of a mirror. Each attempt was a disaster. His words came out jumbled, his voice a shaky whisper. The more he practiced, the more overwhelmed he became.

The night of the party, he lingered in the back, hiding behind a pillar. He watched his father, beaming and surrounded by friends, and felt a pang of guilt. When his name was called, a wave of coldness washed over him. He felt exposed, vulnerable. His hands shook as he fumbled with the microphone.