Gemotions

The air in the ballroom was thick, the noise overwhelming. Alex felt a cold sweat prickling his skin. He was supposed to be celebrating his mother's achievements, but all he felt was an overwhelming sense of inadequacy.

He thought of the words he *should* have said, the gestures he *should* have made, the time he *should* have spent. The truth was, he'd been self-absorbed, consumed by his own petty concerns.

He looked at his mother's smiling face, and the joy on her face cut deeper than any harsh word. He knew he had failed her in countless ways, letting her down when she needed him most. The weight of his failures was almost unbearable. He could barely breathe.