Gemotions

He straightened his tie, feeling a knot tighten in his stomach. The party was a blur of well-wishers and forced smiles. His father, a man of few words and even fewer displays of affection, was now the center of attention. He'd always felt like an outsider, peering in at his father’s world of work.

He approached the microphone, his legs feeling weak. The script he’d prepared seemed inadequate, failing to capture the complex, contradictory feelings churning inside him. The words came out haltingly, devoid of true feeling. He felt a deep ache in his chest, a sensation that had become all too familiar over the years.

He quickly finished, escaping back to his table. He saw his siblings across the room, their faces reflecting his own discomfort. He took a long, slow sip of his drink, the alcohol doing little to soothe the internal unrest.