Gemotions

He stared out the window, the rain mirroring the somberness within. The speech, neatly typed on his laptop, seemed a lie. Every word, a carefully constructed facade. His father, a man he hadn’t truly understood in years, was up there, smiling and basking in the applause.

A tremor ran through his body. He’d spent his life chasing his father’s approval, a chase that always ended in disappointment. He felt an ache he couldn’t place, a coldness that settled deep in his bones. He knew he should be joyful. Instead, he wanted to be anywhere else.

The music started, upbeat and celebratory. He flinched at the cheeriness. He took a deep breath, steeling himself. He wanted to escape, but he knew he couldn’t.