Gemotions

He stared at the blank screen, the cursor blinking like a taunting eye. He’d drafted the memo a dozen times, each iteration feeling weaker, less convincing. He needed this promotion; it was the next step, the only step. He needed the salary to cover his sister’s college tuition, to pay the bills, to maintain the facade.

His palms felt clammy. He heard the door open, a sharp inhale escaping him as he twisted in his chair. It was Sarah, smiling. He forced a smile back. “How’s it going?” she asked. His throat closed, and he just shrugged, unable to voice his anxieties.

He needed her approval. Her congratulations. Her affirmation. The thought of her being disappointed in him was crushing. He glanced over at her desk, imagining her already preparing for her own elevation.