Gemotions

The champagne tasted like ash on Sarah's tongue. Looking at her mother, radiant in her emerald dress, the joy surrounding her felt suffocating. Sarah had missed so many crucial moments, lost in her career ambitions and her own self-importance. She had constantly put herself first.

The podium was a looming presence. Every glance towards it was heavy with dread. She had prepared a speech, a carefully crafted narrative of admiration and gratitude. But the words felt hollow, a flimsy façade covering a multitude of sins.

Her palms were sweating. She thought about the harsh words she’d exchanged, the times she'd brushed off her mother’s concerns and feelings. The regret was a physical weight, pressing down on her chest, making it difficult to breathe. She wished she could take it all back.