Gemotions

"Another coffee?" Mark asked, his voice a little too loud in the quiet cafe. He knew the answer, of course. He’d already had three. Liam, his friend and rival, had the job. He could feel it in the way Liam had been acting, the way his shoulders were held, the barely-contained excitement.

He nodded, pushing his empty cup forward. The barista, a young woman with kind eyes, refilled it without a word. The warmth of the mug was a small comfort, but didn’t melt away the frigid air that seemed to have settled around his heart.

He’d spent the last week preparing for this interview, researching the company, crafting the perfect responses. He felt like his efforts had vanished, like a puff of smoke. Liam, on the other hand, had probably waltzed in and charmed them all.

Later, he considered calling Liam. But that didn't feel right, not yet. He wasn't sure he could feign happiness. Instead, he stared out the window, watching the pedestrians move by, each seeming to be going somewhere more interesting than he was.