Gemotions

The silence of his apartment felt suffocating. He paced the worn rug, his steps measured and erratic. He knew how important this was to his career, to his life. The possibility of failure was a bitter taste in his mouth. He felt the tension in his jaw.

He caught his reflection in the hallway mirror. He looked older than his thirty-something years, the lines around his eyes etched deeper. He avoided his phone, avoiding the messages from his friend, Chloe. She, also in the running for the promotion.

He felt a deep sense of unease. He couldn't shake the image of her getting the role. He felt as if his stomach had been turned inside out. He had put in so much work, so many hours.