Gemotions

He felt a deep sense of inadequacy, as if he had been exposed as a pretender. He spent the morning avoiding eye contact with the victorious candidate, Sarah. Her easy smile, her confident gait, seemed to amplify his perceived shortcomings. The office itself felt different – the air thick with congratulations, each utterance a painful reminder of his own perceived failings.

He started to obsess over small details, his tie, the state of his shoes. He spent the lunch break in the supply closet, lost in thought. He didn't eat. He imagined everyone talking about how he wasn't good enough, and how Sarah had been the obvious choice. He had a growing feeling of being trapped.