Gemotions

He’d chosen a sharp suit for the occasion, a futile attempt to project an image of composure. But now, standing before the expectant crowd, he felt the carefully constructed facade begin to crumble. A cold sweat slicked his palms, and his vision tunneled.

Daniel cleared his throat, the sound unusually loud in the sudden hush. The memories, normally carefully filed away, surfaced unbidden: the disappointments, the unspoken expectations, the weight of family history. He felt a throbbing ache behind his eyes.

His voice caught as he began to speak. He looked to his mother, who had a smile that seemed to both challenge and encourage him. He wanted to do a good job, to make them proud, but the words were stuck, a tangled mess in his throat.