Gemotions

"Just a few words," his mother had pleaded. "Nothing fancy." Now, he stood in the bathroom, staring at his reflection, a stranger he barely recognized. His face was pale, his eyes wide and panicked. The mirror offered no solace, only the cold, hard truth of his current predicament.

He ran cold water over his wrists, a futile attempt to calm the storm raging within him. Each heartbeat felt like a hammer blow against his ribs. He imagined the audience, their polite smiles, their silent judgment. He wanted to disappear. He wanted the floor to open up and swallow him whole.

He practiced a few lines under his breath, his voice a strained whisper. It sounded ridiculous, pathetic. He slammed his fist on the counter in frustration, the impact momentarily dulling the anxiety. He had to pull himself together. For her.