Gemotions

The party was a blur of back-slapping and forced smiles. John stood in the corner, nursing a drink, a knot of unease twisting in his stomach. His father, the legendary lawyer, was retiring, and he, the supposedly "disappointing" son, was required to speak. He found the entire situation completely preposterous.

John remembered the disappointment etched on his father’s face when he chose a different career path. The constant judgments, the unspoken disapproval. He was summoned to the podium. He walked forward, his jaw clenched, his eyes fixed on the floor. His words, when they came, were carefully chosen, devoid of any warmth. "So, Dad, here is to a new chapter."