Gemotions

The decorations seemed overly bright, the music too loud. She scanned the room, noticing the easy camaraderie among her mother’s colleagues, and a pang went through her. She felt like a forgotten extra in the grand narrative of her mother’s life.

She stood before the crowd, gripping the microphone so tightly that her knuckles ached. The words of the speech felt foreign, detached from her actual experience. She spoke of achievement and success, but her voice cracked with an emotion she couldn't quite name.

She delivered the final line and sat down quickly, the cheers fading into an unwelcome din. Her chest felt heavy, and she could hardly breathe. She couldn't meet her mother's eyes, and slipped out to the restroom.