Gemotions

He smoothed down his tie for the tenth time, the silk feeling rough against his clammy hands. David was acutely aware of how his shirt seemed to bunch around his waist. He could hear the hum of conversation, punctuated by the clinking of glasses, and each sound felt like a judgment.

He cleared his throat, the sound echoing in the overly decorated room. His father, seated beside him, gave him a reassuring nod, but it only amplified the feeling of inadequacy. The memory of all his childhood failures, all the times he’d disappointed, flooded his thoughts.

“Dad, you… you always taught me…” he stammered, feeling like he was speaking underwater.