Gemotions

The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, a constant, irritating reminder of the situation. He saw Olivia, his childhood neighbor, fiddling with the strap of her purse. He knew her inside and out; this wasn't how she acted when she was comfortable. He understood. He felt it too.

He tried to force a smile, a gesture of solidarity, but it felt strained, unnatural. The door opened and the receptionist called a name, and then another. The wait was torture.

He clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to dispel the strange, unpleasant feeling that had settled over him. What would happen, he wondered, if neither of them got the job? And what if only one did? He felt suddenly small, vulnerable, and alone.