Gemotions

My jaw ached. It was the constant clenching, I told myself. Mark had the audacity to call me, a week after we both applied, to "congratulate" me on my interview. “You know, I’m sure you’ll nail it,” he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. I grunted in response.

The phone felt heavy in my hand, as if it was a physical burden. I slammed it back onto the receiver. The sound echoed in the otherwise silent apartment. He probably knew he didn't stand a chance. He’d always been the weaker one, the one who relied on charm instead of actually putting in the work.

I walked to the kitchen and grabbed a beer, the cold bottle offered no comfort. He'd never truly understood the dedication, the late nights studying Dewey Decimal Systems, the passion for preserving knowledge. He was just looking for a paycheck. And now he was in the way.