Gemotions

The elevator ride down from the interview felt like an eternity. He pressed the button for the ground floor repeatedly, as if he could somehow speed up the inevitable. Across the elevator car, he spotted Mark, his supposed friend. Mark was smiling, his face lit up with an unfamiliar radiance. The glow was almost too much for him to bear.

The interview had been a disaster. He knew it even before the interviewers had said anything. He'd stumbled over his words, his mind blanking on crucial details. As he thought about it, he was unable to breathe properly.

He felt a burning sensation in his chest. When the elevator doors finally opened, he practically bolted out, dodging Mark's attempt at a friendly greeting. He needed to get away, to be alone.