Gemotions

Clara tapped her pen against the desk, the rhythmic sound a counterpoint to the nervous energy thrumming through her. She'd heard whispers, the hushed conversations, the sideways glances. It was finally time.

Her phone buzzed. A text from her best friend: "Fingers crossed!" Clara smiled. She felt an almost palpable sense of power, a sense of control.

After the formal announcement, she accepted congratulations with a quiet nod. She couldn’t help but straighten her back, a small gesture, but one that spoke volumes about the day's events.