Gemotions

The phone rang. It was her mother. Emily stared at the buzzing phone, frozen. "Hello?" she managed, her voice tight. The usual cheerful voice on the other end felt like a tidal wave of expectation, each question about the job application a fresh assault. She stammered through the conversation, struggling to maintain a semblance of composure. She kept catching her breath, the air seemed heavy, and her heart was a drum beating a frantic rhythm. "I'll call you back," she finally blurted, and hung up, the sound of the dial tone a sudden, sharp relief.