Gemotions

The microphone felt surprisingly light in Liam’s hand. He bounced on the balls of his feet, feeling an electric charge buzzing through him. The room, usually staid and formal for these events, seemed to hum with the energy of the crowd. He glanced at his dad, beaming in his freshly pressed suit, a genuine smile plastered on his face. This was going to be great.

Liam took a deep breath, the scent of the catered food filling his lungs. He felt a sudden, almost uncontrollable urge to leap onto the small stage and start doing push-ups. Instead, he grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. He tapped the microphone and began, “Dad, for thirty years, you’ve dedicated yourself…”

He paused, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He leaned closer to the mic, almost whispering, “And I’m pretty sure that’s just a warm-up for what you're planning now, huh?” Laughter erupted from the audience, and Liam found himself swept up in the delight, his own laughter joining the chorus.