Gemotions

He waited, fidgeting with the pen on the reception desk, as Jessica, his friend, sailed out of the interview room, beaming. He tried to offer her a congratulatory smile, but his lips felt stiff, his face rigid. She was bubbling with excitement, describing the job and the company. He just listened and felt a heavy knot form in his stomach.

When it was his turn, the room felt sterile, the air thick with unspoken expectations. The interview went poorly. He stumbled over his answers, his voice cracking with nerves. The confident image he'd tried to cultivate crumbled under the weight of his own self-doubt.

Leaving the building, he kept his head down, avoiding eye contact with anyone, especially Jessica. He felt an intense desire to run, to disappear. He walked straight past Jessica, ignoring her attempts to get his attention.