Gemotions

The gate agent offered a weak smile. "We're doing everything we can…" A bald-faced lie. He knew it. She knew it. He glared at the agent, his jaw clenched, the muscles in his neck rigid. This was utterly unacceptable.

He'd been counting down the days. His daughter’s graduation. He’d envisioned the scene a hundred times. The proud smile on her face, the embrace, the joy. Now, the image dissolved into a swirl of frustration.

He leaned against the wall, his chest constricted. He took a deep breath, fighting the urge to shatter the pristine glass of the gate window. His stomach churned. He pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling as he dialed his daughter's number. He knew what he’d hear.