Gemotions

The silence in the room was deafening. After months of secrecy, after sacrificing countless weekends, after all the late nights, Beatrice had just seen Mark’s presentation. Her presentation. The knot in her throat made it difficult to swallow. She couldn't breathe.

She avoided looking at the judging panel. Her hands were clammy. She felt an urge to run, to disappear. Mark was beaming, basking in the glow of the overhead projector.

Beatrice slowly gathered her belongings, her movements deliberate, mechanical. She slipped out of the room unnoticed, unable to face the congratulations. The world suddenly looked grey.