Gemotions

The air in the break room felt thick, heavy. He watched from behind the coffee machine as Kevin, his competitor, fielded congratulations from their colleagues. Their smiles felt forced, their words hollow.

He poured himself a cup of coffee, the dark liquid doing nothing to soothe the tension in his chest. He hated being in this room. He hated the way Kevin’s grin was stretched across his face.

He had spent weeks polishing his resume, attending workshops. Kevin? Kevin, on the other hand, had always had a knack for getting what he wanted.

He took a large gulp of the bitter coffee, then quickly left, not wanting to see Kevin's face any longer.