Gemotions

The evening was a series of small humiliations for Jasper. He tried to blend in, to disappear into the crowd, but the pressure of the upcoming speech made it impossible. He felt a constant, low-level anxiety thrumming beneath his skin. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was about to make a fool of himself.

He’d spent hours agonising over the words, crafting a speech that would satisfy his parents' expectations. But as the evening progressed, he found himself increasingly critical of the whole charade, of the forced joy, of the unspoken tensions that permeated the air.

He watched his father, his face flushed with pride, and felt a surge of resentment. When his name was announced, he felt a sudden, almost desperate urge to escape. He walked to the podium, his legs unsteady, and began to speak, his voice barely a whisper.