Gemotions

The coffee cup rattled in Daniel's hand as he attempted to pour a second cup. The liquid sloshed precariously close to the brim. He set the mug down with a clatter, the sound amplified in the otherwise silent apartment. His gaze darted to the clock, then to the phone. Still no calls.

He and Ben, his roommate and long-time companion, had both applied for the same software engineer position at Apex Technologies. They’d spent countless late nights studying, helping each other prepare for the interviews. Now, the camaraderie felt strained, replaced by an unspoken rivalry that hung heavy in the air.

He picked up the phone, and then set it back down. The urge to text Ben, to gauge his reaction, to somehow gain an advantage, warred with a feeling of deep-seated guilt. He pinched the bridge of his nose, the pressure doing nothing to dispel the swirling thoughts.