Gemotions

The presentation went well. At least, she thought it did. Now, alone in the conference room, awaiting the final word, she was a wreck. Her leg bounced relentlessly. The air conditioning did nothing to cool the flush on her cheeks. Across the table was her competitor, John.

Every sense was heightened. She noticed the slight tremor in his hands as he adjusted his tie. His eyes, usually friendly, held a different intensity today, a sort of focused heat that mirrored her own internal state.

The silence was deafening, amplified by the drumming of her own heart. She felt a desperate need to say something, anything, to break the tension. But her throat was dry, her tongue thick.