Gemotions

From his seat in the departure lounge, David bounced his knee, the movement a frantic rhythm. His daughter's graduation ceremony was today. He’d promised to be there, to see her walk across that stage.

He felt a tightening in his chest, a sensation that made it hard to breathe. The arrival time kept shifting further into the future. He pulled out his phone again, scrolling through photos of her. He replayed, in his mind, the celebratory speech he'd prepared.

He checked the time again, and again. It was a vicious cycle. The minutes seemed to crawl by, each tick of the clock a tiny hammer blow against his hope.