Gemotions

The morning stretched before Amelia like a vast, empty plain. She dragged herself out of bed, the sheets clinging to her limbs as if they wanted to hold her back. The prospect of the interview for the marketing assistant role, the same one her friend Ben was also vying for, felt heavier than the briefcase she’d packed the night before. She fumbled with the coffee maker, the aroma doing little to invigorate her.

Her reflection in the mirror showed a face that seemed miles away from the enthusiastic applicant she’d hoped to project. Her shoulders slumped as she practiced her answers, the words feeling stale on her tongue. It was going to be a long day.

She met Ben in the lobby, his smile radiant. He practically bounced with energy. "Ready to knock 'em dead?" he asked. Amelia could only offer a weak smile in response, the brightness of his demeanor a stark contrast to her own internal landscape.