Gemotions

The room seemed to shrink around her. She'd rehearsed her speech repeatedly, but now, the words seemed to vanish from her memory. The microphone felt heavy in her hand, the lights searing. A nervous laugh escaped her lips, sounding brittle and forced. She could feel the stares of her extended family, their expectations weighing down on her like a physical burden.

Her mother's proud smile usually warmed her, but tonight it felt like a silent challenge. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach, and her palms grew clammy. She stammered through a few anecdotes, each one feeling more contrived than the last. She cringed inwardly at her performance.

She watched her grandfather, his face a mask of disappointment. She knew he thought she was capable of so much more. She wanted to disappear. She wanted to run. She stumbled off the stage, desperate to find a place to hide.