Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the bakery cast a sickly glow on Daniel’s face as he frosted the cupcakes. He was back at his old part-time job, something he’d sworn he'd never do again after college. The sweet smell of the icing, once a comfort, now felt cloying. He knew he was capable of more, had the education, the drive, or at least he thought he did. Now, he was trapped in this cycle of making other people's sugary treats.

“Hey, Daniel, you got those birthday cakes ready?” the manager, a woman with a perpetual frown, barked from the other side of the counter.

Daniel nodded, his mouth tightening. The thought of facing his parents after his shift, the constant inquiries about his job search, filled him with a quiet dread. He felt a lead weight in his stomach, and a sudden desire to walk out the door.

He meticulously finished the details of each cake, his movements precise, almost robotic. The decorations were always the same, but the situation inside him was unique. The frosting felt like something he was trying to hide, as he finished and turned to face the day.