Gemotions

David felt a sudden urge to flee. He stood in the doorway of the venue, the noise and the crowd a swirling maelstrom. He needed to get away, just for a moment, to breathe. He felt a pounding headache coming on. His father's retirement party. He should be thrilled. He wasn't.

He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands. The speech. He'd rehearsed it, but now the words felt foreign, forgotten. He felt a creeping sense of panic, a fear of failure. He tried to swallow, but his throat was dry.

He spotted a familiar face in the crowd and forced a smile, but the expression felt unnatural, brittle. He excused himself, pushing his way through the gathering, needing to find some space, some air, some time.