Gemotions

The air in the office felt thick, stifling. He avoided eye contact with his friend, pretending to focus on his computer screen. The silence in the cubicle felt loaded.

He picked at his pen, clicking it on and off, the sound grating on his nerves. He kept catching glimpses of his friend, smiling and laughing with other colleagues. The easy camaraderie seemed a cruel reminder of his own situation.

He thought of the plans they had made. Of how they had envisioned working together. The dream, for him, felt like a distant memory, replaced by a dull, throbbing ache of disappointment. He sat there, staring at the screen.

He didn't make eye contact. He did not speak. The minutes ticked by slowly, each one a testament to his own frustration.