Gemotions

The air was thick with the cloying scent of perfume and cheap wine. He felt a growing sense of claustrophobia. He needed to escape, to run away and be alone. Instead, he forced a smile, a grimace, really, and began the walk to the stage.

He thought of the sacrifices he had made, the dreams he had abandoned to appease his parents. He thought of all the unspoken resentments that had festered over the years. He felt the familiar ache in his jaw.

He reached for the microphone, his fingers trembling. The silence felt heavy. He looked out at the assembled guests, all smiling and clapping. He swallowed hard.

"Dad," he said, his voice flat. He could feel his throat closing. He was barely able to speak. The words felt like a betrayal of his true feelings. The applause when he finished stung.