Gemotions

The coffee tasted like battery acid, a fitting start to a day that was already off-kilter. Sarah slammed the mug onto her desk, the ceramic clicking sharply against the wood. The email, subject line "Job Application Update," had arrived an hour ago, confirming what she already suspected. Liam had been shortlisted too.

She ran a hand through her hair, tugging at the strands. This was just…wrong. Liam had always been the lucky one, gliding through life on a cloud of charm and effortlessly acquired success. She’d meticulously crafted her resume, practiced her interview answers, and now… this.

“Everything alright, Sarah?” Mark, from accounts, poked his head in. His voice, usually a soothing balm, grated on her ears.

"Peachy," she replied, her voice sharper than intended. "Just... busy." She turned back to her computer, feigning intense concentration on spreadsheets she'd already memorized.