Gemotions

He re-read the email confirmation, his eyes darting back and forth, trying to make sense of the situation. His mother's retirement felt… premature. Unexpected. He hadn’t prepared.

At the party, he felt like an intruder in his own life. The happy music, the cheerful decorations – it all felt artificial, a veneer covering something else entirely. He kept fiddling with his cufflinks, pulling at the sleeves of his shirt.

When he was called to speak, he walked forward in a daze. The spotlights seemed to magnify the heat in the room. He felt a sudden, overpowering urge to flee. He reached the podium, his vision momentarily blurred. He stumbled over his first few words.