Gemotions

He looked at the worn, familiar face of his best mate, David. His heart expanded in his chest. David had always been the cool, successful one. "Tech guru," he'd called himself, casually mentioning six-figure salaries. Now, here he was, admitting he'd been working at the local supermarket.

The news had hit Mark hard, but the revelation also opened a floodgate. Mark, who was always trying to measure up, now experienced a sense of liberation. The pressure to compete, to keep pace with David's supposed success, dissolved. He slapped David on the back, a genuine smile splitting his face. "Hey, you know, they make a killer apple pie there."