Gemotions

Sarah smoothed down her dress, for probably the tenth time in as many minutes. The ballroom shimmered with gold, a stark contrast to the churning feeling in her stomach. Tables overflowed with food, and the air buzzed with excited chatter, but all she could hear was the frantic thumping of her own heart. She glanced at the stage, where a lone microphone stood, waiting. The thought of standing up there, under the spotlight, made her palms begin to perspire.

She spotted her father across the room, beaming. He raised a glass, and she forced a smile back, hoping it looked natural. The band struck up a jaunty tune, and she excused herself, saying she needed a breath of fresh air. Outside, the cool night air offered little comfort.

Leaning against the building, she closed her eyes, trying to focus on something other than the upcoming speech. The rhythmic pulse in her throat echoed the beat of the music from inside. This was it. There was no escaping it.