Gemotions

He slammed the phone down, the plastic cracking slightly under the force. Thomas paced the cramped, echoing waiting area, his movements jerky and uneven. He'd been looking forward to this – a rare chance to see his daughter's first piano recital, a chance to reconnect. Now, the airline’s incompetence threatened to shatter that hope. Sweat beaded on his brow, despite the air conditioning. Each ping from his phone, a reminder of the impending missed opportunity, sent a fresh wave of heat through him.

He kicked a discarded newspaper, sending it skittering across the floor. Someone gave him a wary look, and he just glared back. "Is there even a point in waiting?" he muttered to himself, the words barely audible. He felt like he could explode at any moment.