Gemotions

"Coffee?" Marcus asked, his voice sounding oddly high-pitched to his own ears. He held out the pot, his hand trembling slightly. Sarah, his colleague, smiled politely, shook her head. They were both up for the lead marketing role.

He retreated to his cubicle, the walls suddenly feeling oppressively close. His usual creative energy had vanished, replaced by a jittery feeling. He couldn't focus on anything. His phone kept buzzing with emails, each notification amplified in the silence.

He imagined the awkwardness of the next team meeting if Sarah was chosen. The forced smiles, the false camaraderie. He picked at the corner of his desk, the wood splintering beneath his nervous fingers. He hoped he wouldn't crack, that he would be able to handle it if he didn't get the role.