Gemotions

Sarah avoided eye contact as she walked through the crowded hall. The chatter, the laughter – it all felt like a foreign language. She'd managed to get dressed without crying, a small victory. The microphone, gleaming under the harsh stage lights, was a silent indictment. It amplified every inadequacy.

She’d spent the morning staring at the screen, the cursor blinking, mocking her inability to form words. Everything she wrote sounded hollow, insincere. Her father, a man of profound wisdom and unwavering moral character, deserved better. She wanted to disappear.

She glanced at her brother, handsome and articulate, already surrounded by admirers. He looked at her and smiled, full of encouragement, and then gave a barely perceptible shake of the head. She turned away quickly, her chest tightening as the feeling of hollowness took over.