Gemotions

He stared at the door, steeling himself. He and Michael had both put in countless hours preparing for this opportunity. The interview felt like a battlefield, a contest for survival. He felt the cold sweat on his palms, and his shirt stuck to his back.

His turn came. The interviewer's smile felt like a trap, and the room seemed to spin. He struggled to articulate his ideas, his mind racing, his thoughts scattered and disconnected. When it was over, he felt as if a weight had been lifted, yet it was replaced with a hollow ache.

Leaving the building, he caught sight of Michael. He knew the news, the good or the bad. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t offer a congratulation or a sympathetic word. The distance between them, once so small, now felt immeasurable.