Gemotions

Sweat beaded on Liam's forehead as he stared at the blank page. He’d been staring at it for an hour, the cursor a mocking blink. His dad’s retirement party was tonight, and the speech was due. He tapped his pen against the desk, a frantic rhythm. His stomach churned. He’d rather wrestle a bear than stand up in front of everyone and talk about feelings. He glanced at the clock again, a knot tightening in his chest.

He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair. He wasn't even sure where to begin. "My amazing, incredible, soon-to-be-retired Dad..." He crumpled the paper and tossed it in the overflowing bin. He felt a sudden urge to go for a run, anything to escape the weight of the impending evening. He paced the room, muttering to himself, his breath coming in shallow gasps.

The thought of his sister, Sarah, giving a perfectly eloquent and heartfelt speech, made him want to crawl under the covers. He pictured his mother, beaming with pride, and his own cheeks flushed hot with a combination of embarrassment and dread. He took a long, shaky breath and went to get some water.