Gemotions

The music swelled, a stark contrast to the quiet turmoil brewing inside Grace. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Her parents were laughing, enjoying themselves. And she felt a bitter taste on her tongue.

She’d been so focused on her own life, her own ambitions. She had placed herself above them. She had always made excuses. And now, she felt the sting of their kindness, the ache of her absences.

The speech she'd prepared felt insincere, a collection of empty phrases. She could feel a flush creeping up her neck, a physical manifestation of the shame she carried. She looked at her parents, and the weight of it all settled heavily in her heart.