Gemotions

"He's got the gift of the gab, you know?" Liam muttered to himself, tracing circles on the condensation of his water glass. The office kitchen felt cavernous, the fluorescent lights humming a dull, incessant tune. He’d overheard snippets of gossip, David's name frequently mentioned in favorable terms. The possibility of losing felt suffocating, and the prospect of facing David again, after the announcement, became an unwelcome thought.

Liam felt a familiar hollowness in his chest, a deep ache. He hadn't spoken to his sister in a week. He used to share everything with her. Now, silence had become his companion. He chewed on his lip, the metallic taste of anxiety filling his mouth.

He watched the elevator doors close, then watched them again. He yearned for a familiar face, a friendly smile, a simple word of encouragement. He felt the weight of the upcoming day bearing down on his shoulders.