Gemotions

Sarah chewed the inside of her cheek until she tasted blood. The silence in the waiting room was a physical weight, pressing down on her chest. Each tick of the clock on the wall felt like a hammer blow. She smoothed down her already perfect skirt, then picked at a loose thread on her sleeve. Her stomach was doing flips, a nauseating dance of anticipation and dread.

She caught sight of Liam across the room, his normally relaxed posture stiff and unnatural. He gave her a weak smile, and she offered one back, her throat tight. They’d been inseparable since kindergarten, and this… this was different. Competition, even friendly competition, felt like a betrayal.

The door opened, and a woman called a name. Sarah jumped, her heart leaping into her throat. Liam squeezed his eyes shut, as if praying for deliverance. This was going to be the longest hour of her life.