Gemotions

The silence in the waiting room was almost deafening, broken only by the rhythmic clicking of a keyboard from the receptionist's desk. Fiona closed her eyes, trying to center herself. Across the room, Chloe, her friend from university, was doing the same.

The weeks of preparation, the mock interviews, the shared anxieties – it all culminated in this moment. Fiona's fingers unconsciously traced the lines of the resume she’d painstakingly revised. She thought about her family, who had believed in her, even when she doubted herself.

The interviewer called her name, and her heart skipped a beat. She stood and took a deep breath, feeling a sudden surge of strength. She had given it her all, and that realization alone filled her with contentment. It felt like she had been given a gift.