Gemotions

"You look *thrilled*," Sarah’s sister, Emily, observed, her voice dripping with sugary concern. Sarah just grunted in response, avoiding eye contact. She hated this forced cheerfulness. The job interview loomed, a monstrous shadow over her already burdened day.

She picked at the corner of the envelope, her fingers tracing the paper's cheap texture. The thought of competing with Chloe for the position filled her with an unpleasant sense of unease. Chloe, with her polished charm and effortless social skills, always seemed to have the upper hand.

She mumbled a reply to Emily, the words escaping her lips as though they were forced. The constant pressure of needing this job, of proving herself, was suffocating. She wished she could just disappear.