Gemotions

"Coffee?" Marcus offered, his voice lacking its usual cheer. His voice was flat. He and Ben had applied for the same software developer position at the start-up. Ben was already celebrating, the news of his offer having come in just that morning. Marcus had yet to hear back.

He watched Ben pace, excitedly explaining his plans. The energy in the air was palpable, in stark contrast to the thick silence that had settled over Marcus. He nodded, feigning interest. His own application had represented a leap of faith, a chance to finally break free from the tedious routines of his current job.

The coffee tasted bitter. He excused himself, needing to be alone. He walked out onto his balcony, the city sprawled before him. The vastness only emphasized his feeling of containment. He felt like a caged bird.