Gemotions

The waiting room felt suddenly too small, the floral wallpaper pressing in. Liam fiddled with the edge of his resume, the paper beginning to fray under his nervous fingers. Across from him, Maya, his best friend since kindergarten, was casually chatting with another applicant, a relaxed smile gracing her face. He forced a smile of his own when their eyes met, but it felt stiff, a grimace.

He wanted the ground to swallow him whole. They’d agreed on a 'friendly competition', but seeing Maya's effortless confidence, the way she seemed to command the room, stung. He cleared his throat, the sound loud in the sudden hush.

His palms were slick. He wished he'd chosen a different tie, a different suit, anything to feel less… exposed. The receptionist called Maya's name, and he watched her rise with a graceful ease that made his own limbs feel wooden.