Gemotions

He stared at the sea of faces, a sea of expectations. The clinking of glasses, the murmur of conversation, had ceased. All eyes were on him. David swallowed hard. The lights seemed to intensify, making his face feel flushed and exposed. His dad, usually stoic, offered a small, encouraging smile.

He gripped the podium. His fingers felt numb. The words he’d carefully crafted, the witty remarks, the heartfelt acknowledgments, were gone, lost in the echoing void of the room. He felt a wave of heat wash over him.

“Dad…” he finally croaked, his voice cracking, “You… you worked hard.” He fidgeted, his gaze darting around the room, anything to avoid the unwavering focus.