Gemotions

The ballroom décor seemed overwhelmingly pink, all frills and floral arrangements. It was the same colour as the dress she was wearing. She felt claustrophobic, despite the spacious surroundings. A persistent itch between her shoulder blades wouldn't go away. Her grandmother, seated at the head table, kept giving her a look she couldn't quite decipher.

“To my mother and father,” she began, her voice trembling slightly. “Their dedication… their love…” She stumbled over the words, feeling a sudden need to be somewhere else, anywhere else. She wanted to bolt for the exit and drive as far away as she possibly could. The applause that followed felt like a judgment.