Gemotions

He watched his sister, Sarah, deliver her toast with such ease. Her words flowed, witty and heartfelt, and the laughter that followed filled the room. A tightness clenched in his chest. He felt his face flush. He wished he could be as articulate, as loved, as her.

Later, he excused himself, claiming he needed air. Outside, the night air was cool, but he felt a strange prickling heat under his skin. He leaned against the brick of the building, feeling the rough texture. He pictured his parents, relaxed and happy, surrounded by their friends. Their lives seemed so… well-defined. He, on the other hand, felt adrift. The words he'd prepared stuck in his throat, and the toast he'd meant to deliver lay unsaid.