Gemotions

A tremor of pure joy ran through Michael as he accepted the mic. The room seemed to blur as he took in the familiar faces – his family, his parent's long-time friends, all gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion. A wide smile stretched across his face, threatening to split his cheeks. He felt a bubbly lightness in his stomach.

He cleared his throat, but the butterflies in his gut made it hard to contain himself. He began by recounting a childhood memory of his dad building a treehouse, the sheer effort, the laughter, the shared experience. His voice cracked with emotion, each word imbued with a fondness that he couldn't hide.

He couldn't stand still. His fingers fidgeted with the edge of the podium and his eyes darted from face to face. It was all a bit much, in the best possible way. He punctuated his speech with vigorous nods, laughing at his own jokes, and occasionally wiping at the sudden dampness that appeared in the corners of his eyes.