Gemotions

The interview had gone perfectly, I thought. I’d answered every question with confidence, presented my case clearly. The following day, I saw Sarah, my competitor for the role, chatting with the CEO. They were laughing.

I felt like an automaton. My carefully prepared responses, the confident smile I’d practiced in the mirror, all felt like empty gestures. I watched them from across the office, as if through a thick sheet of glass.

My throat felt constricted. My hands were clammy. The coffee I'd just brewed tasted like dirt. I couldn’t even bring myself to touch the keyboard.

I tried to focus on my current project, to ground myself. But the words on the screen swam before my eyes.