Gemotions

The gate agent’s announcement, droning and detached, barely registered on Ben. His heart was usually a drumbeat of ambition, but the news of the flight delay to the job interview made him feel… sluggish. He settled into the hard seat, the plastic cold against his skin.

He'd spent weeks preparing, poring over documents, and rehearsing his answers. Now, all that preparation felt distant. He closed his eyes and saw the interview room, the faces of the interviewers, but the image seemed oddly unreal.

He let his shoulders slump and stared at the ceiling. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, a constant, irritating reminder of the situation. He felt a deep, pervasive weariness. He didn't even bother to check his watch.