Gemotions

The room felt stifling. Sweat beaded on Clara's forehead despite the air conditioning. She replayed the interview in her head, dissecting every word, every nuance. She pictured Sarah, her rival and best friend, smiling and confident. The memory was like a knife twist.

She bit her lip, a habit she'd sworn off years ago. Her hands trembled as she reached for her phone, tempted to check her emails again, even though she'd already done so a hundred times. The silence of her apartment amplified the pounding in her ears.