Gemotions

The stale air of the elevator felt heavy on his lungs, making it hard to breathe. Liam kept glancing at Emily, the woman across from him. He knew they were both supposed to be going to the office Christmas party and he was very much dreading it. He'd poured his feelings out to her just last week, and she’d been…kind. But now, it wasn't the kind he craved.

He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture conveying a mix of frustration and utter exhaustion. He’d been working on a project, hoping to impress her, and had just been told that it was going to be scrapped.

Emily was trying to keep the conversation going, but he struggled to engage. The emptiness inside him was vast and consuming. All his ambitions seemed insignificant.

He swallowed hard, a lump forming in his throat. He wished they had never met. Or, that things could be different.