Gemotions

“They picked Maya,” Sarah managed, her voice cracking slightly. She gripped the edge of the conference table, her knuckles white. Across from her, Mark, the hiring manager, offered a weak smile. She had known all along this would happen, but the thought of it had been easier than the reality. They had been friends since their university days. They had even spent hours together preparing for the interview.

The smile on Mark's face seemed to irritate her. He said something about the difficult choices. Her vision swam. She didn’t know how to respond to that. She felt as though something heavy had lodged in her chest, making it hard to breathe.

She cleared her throat. “That’s… that’s great for her.” She couldn't look at him anymore. She rose from the chair. The world spun for a moment as she left the room. The door shut with a solid thud. Sarah walked down the hallway, her head down. She didn't acknowledge anyone as she passed.