Gemotions

The speech was written, practiced, memorized. Yet when he stood at the podium, his voice trembled. The words felt disconnected, like someone else's. He struggled to maintain eye contact, his gaze drifting aimlessly.

The room seemed to spin. Each face blurred into the next. He felt a sudden, intense heat, a flush rising in his cheeks. He could hear his own heartbeat, a rapid, frantic drum against his ribs.

He pushed on, reciting the words as quickly as he could, longing for it to be over. He finished the final sentence, and when he sat down, he let out a long, silent breath.