Gemotions

Rain lashed against the bus window, mirroring the tempest brewing inside her. The air inside the vehicle was thick with the scent of stale coffee and desperation. She clutched her worn briefcase, the leather cold and unyielding against her fingers. The image of the job application, with her and Maria’s names side-by-side, haunted her.

She glared at the cheerful, chattering teenagers beside her. Their bright clothes and carefree laughter grated on her nerves. She wished they’d all just shut up. The thought of Maria acing the interview, with her practiced smile and perfectly coiffed hair, made her chest tighten.

She closed her eyes, trying to block out the world. The rhythmic sway of the bus offered little comfort. She felt a familiar knot forming in her stomach, a bitter taste rising in her throat. She dreaded what today would bring.