Gemotions

The fluorescent lights in the break room hummed, a constant, irritating buzz that grated on Liam's nerves. He stared into his half-empty mug of coffee, its warmth doing nothing to soothe the chill that had settled in his bones. The interview with the board was less than an hour away.

He kept replaying the conversation he’d had with Chloe earlier that morning. They'd always had a friendly rivalry, but now, the shared joke felt hollow, the smile forced. He felt like his stomach was a rock.

He glanced at the clock again, his gaze lingering on the seconds ticking by. He wasn't sure if he could make it through the next hour. Each minute felt longer than the last.