Gemotions

From the moment the retirement party was announced, Claire had started experiencing frequent headaches. The speech loomed over her like a dark cloud, casting a shadow over every aspect of her life. She was usually a confident woman, but this was different.

She woke up in the middle of the night, heart pounding, convinced she had forgotten an important detail. During the day, she was distracted and clumsy. She spilled coffee on her blouse twice.

She attempted to write the speech, but the words wouldn't come. Each sentence she began felt wrong, awkward, and inadequate. She felt a growing despair.