Gemotions

He stared at the speech, the typed words on the page feeling both familiar and completely alien. He'd poured his heart into this, he remembered. He'd crafted the perfect tribute. But now, as he stood before the assembled crowd, the words swam before his eyes. He felt a curious detachment, as if watching a play performed by a stranger.

His breath hitched in his throat. He looked around the room, the faces blurring into a sea of indistinguishable smiles. He could feel his heart hammering against his ribs, a frantic rhythm against the quiet. He took a step back, the movement feeling involuntary, as if he were being pulled by an invisible force. He gripped the edge of the podium, his knuckles turning white.