Gemotions

The microphone felt surprisingly light in Liam’s hand. He bounced on the balls of his feet as he approached the podium. The banquet hall buzzed with the low murmur of conversation and the clinking of champagne glasses. His dad, beaming at a table near the front, gave a little thumbs-up. Liam returned the gesture, a grin splitting his face. A warmth spread through his chest, a feeling like sunshine on a crisp autumn day. He cleared his throat, ready to share the stories that had shaped his life.

He looked out at the faces, a mix of family and longtime colleagues. Aunt Carol winked, Uncle George gave a hearty nod. This was it, the culmination of so much hard work and dedication. He was bursting to tell everyone how proud he was.

His voice, when he finally began, was steady. He told the stories about his dad’s late nights working and the jokes he always told. He described what it felt like to have a hero.