Gemotions

His hands wouldn’t stop fidgeting. Liam ran them through his already messy hair, leaving it standing on end. He could feel the blood rushing through his veins, the pulse hammering against his temples. The air in the breakroom felt thin, so he stepped outside, the cool morning air a slight comfort.

He’d rehearsed his pitch a dozen times, the words flowing effortlessly in his head. But the thought of actually standing in front of the board, of facing Ms. Rodriguez and Mr. Harrison, made his stomach clench. He pictured the faces of his colleagues, their quiet assessment. They all knew this was it.

He paced the small area of sidewalk he was allowed to, a nervous energy propelling him forward. The sun peeked over the rooftops, casting long shadows. He tried to focus on his breathing, but it was shallow and rapid. He needed to be calm, collected, but this internal hurricane made that impossible.