Gemotions

He paced, the polished airport floor reflecting his restless energy. Each footfall echoed in the nearly empty gate area, a sound amplified by the sudden, sharp, intake of breath that escaped his lips. The delay announcement for his flight to see his ailing father hit him like a physical blow. A wave of nausea rolled over him. He felt his stomach constrict. His palms were clammy.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. A missed call from the hospital. He didn't have the courage to listen to the voicemail. He kept replaying the image of his father's fragile smile. The notion of arriving too late, of never seeing that smile again, was a cold weight in his chest.