Gemotions

As soon as he saw his father's face, he felt an undeniable sensation wash over him. A wave of regret that made his shoulders slump and his smile falter. The room felt stifling, the celebratory atmosphere mocking. He should have been there more.

He had promised to visit, to call, to be involved. He hadn’t. He’d been wrapped up in his own world, his own ambitions. The speech he had prepared seemed paltry now, a weak attempt to mend the damage.

He watched his father, his eyes twinkling with happiness, and the pressure within him increased. It was a suffocating pressure, a weight he wasn't sure he could carry. He cleared his throat. The words caught, tangled in a web of unspoken apologies.