Gemotions

He felt a throbbing pulse in his temples. Every cough, every chair scrape, amplified his anxiety. He’d practiced the speech countless times in front of a mirror, but now, under pressure, his mind was a blank slate.

He glanced at his mother, whose eyes shone with pride. He wanted to make her happy, but the words wouldn’t come. He felt a creeping sense of panic, a desperate urge to flee the room.

He reached the microphone. His mouth was dry, his throat constricted. He struggled to find his voice. "This… is…" he stammered.