Gemotions

The moment the emcee called her name, Amelia felt a strange electrical current course through her. She was usually good with crowds. Now, her palms were slick, and her heart was galloping. She gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles white. She had been putting off writing the speech for weeks, and now, it was crunch time.

She picked at the label on the water bottle, peeling it bit by bit. The decorations seemed too bright, the music too loud. The air felt thick, heavy, as though the room was closing in on her. She felt an uncontrollable urge to walk, to move, to go anywhere but here.

The emcee cleared his throat. She forced a smile, a brittle thing that felt foreign on her face. She closed her eyes for a moment, wishing she could rewind time, or better yet, simply evaporate.