Gemotions

Sarah felt a cold wave of something wash over her. It was as if her heart had turned to stone. She hated this celebration, this charade of happiness. She walked to the podium, her movements slow and deliberate.

She began her speech with a carefully crafted preamble, praising their hard work and dedication. But the more she spoke, the more the words took on an edge. She spoke of her mother's ambition, but she emphasized the cost.

She focused on the sacrifices that had been made, the dreams that had been deferred. She saw the way her parents winced and the way their happiness deflated. She wanted to hurt them. She did, and she felt nothing.