Gemotions

The champagne flute in Daniel’s hand trembled. The whole room seemed to be vibrating with forced conviviality. His father, in a brand-new suit, stood next to him. Daniel wanted to wipe the smugness off his face.

He cleared his throat. “Well, Dad, a lot of people are here to… celebrate.” He emphasized the word, twisting his mouth. The band struck a jazzy chord, and he winced.

He spoke about the times his father had belittled his dreams, the advice he’d ignored. He spoke about the things they'd never shared. He noticed his father’s smile falter, his eyes narrowing slightly, and a flicker of something that resembled pain crossed his face.

“It's been a long road,” Daniel finished, his voice finally breaking. A single, solitary tear escaped and rolled down his cheek, but it wasn't a tear of sadness.