Gemotions

The letter arrived via snail mail, a formal invitation to the retirement celebration for her father. It was the last line of the attached note that made her pause. "We'd love it if you'd say a few words." Her jaw went slack. The request, coming so out of left field, left her speechless.

She felt a strange tingling in her extremities. It seemed like the party invitations, and the idea of speaking, had come out of nowhere. She had always been content to blend into the background. Now she was being asked to step into the limelight.

The weeks leading up to the party were filled with a low-grade anxiety. She tossed and turned at night, practicing her speech in her head. She knew she had to face her fears.