Gemotions

“Ladies and gentlemen…” His voice cracked, the sound echoing in the large hall. He looked out at the sea of faces, his gaze settling on his mother, radiant in a shimmering gown. He was supposed to speak, but the words seemed to vanish from his mind, replaced by an unsettling confusion.

He took a step back, the microphone cord tangling around his legs. The whole affair felt surreal. The smiles, the toasts, the well-wishes—they were a language he suddenly didn’t understand. The air in his lungs felt thin, hard to draw in. He blinked, trying to clear his head, but the sensation of being adrift remained.