Gemotions

The band struck up a celebratory tune. She felt the music's infectious joy seep into her bones. The room, filled with people she loved and admired, was a testament to the lives her parents had lived. It was a beautiful thing, all of this.

She approached the podium, feeling a tremor in her hands. It was a privilege to speak for them. It was a privilege to be their daughter.

"When I was younger," she began, her voice resonating, "I didn't fully understand the sacrifices you both made. The long hours, the missed opportunities. But now I do."