Gemotions

The waiting room was a sterile white box. Emily tapped her foot, a frantic rhythm against the polished floor. Across from her, David, her friend from university, was casually flipping through a magazine. His ease infuriated her. She couldn’t seem to sit still.

She had rehearsed her answers, anticipated every question. Now, the memory of her interview seemed hazy, like a dream. She felt this sudden surge of something, a feeling she couldn't quite name, that made her want to pace. The air conditioning was on full blast, but she felt hot and flushed.

She kept catching herself staring at David, trying to gauge his reaction, his body language. He looked cool, relaxed. She wished she could be, too. She felt this unsettling lightness in her stomach, like she was about to plummet.