Gemotions

The silence in the car was thick. They’d driven home together after the interview, an unspoken agreement that felt heavy now. She kept sneaking glances at her friend, Maria, who was humming softly, staring out the window.

She had to know. The anticipation was eating her alive. Finally, she broke the silence. "So, what did you think?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly.

Maria turned, her expression open and honest. "I felt really good about it!" she said. Her friend’s response was like a physical blow. The world seemed to shrink, focusing on the empty seat next to her.

She mumbled something, a generic, non-committal response. She felt a cold, hard knot in her chest, a sense of having been cheated.