Gemotions

The pen slipped in Sarah's sweaty grip as she tried to write her cover letter. The words refused to cooperate, dissolving into a meaningless jumble. She kept starting over, deleting and rewriting the same tired clichés. The kitchen clock ticked with a relentless, mocking rhythm.

She glanced out the window at the familiar street, each house looking foreign and slightly sinister. Her hand trembled as she refilled her coffee cup, the dark liquid sloshing over the rim. She’d always wanted this job, the one both she and Chloe were vying for. The competitive sting was sharp.

The phone rang, and she jumped, knocking over the sugar bowl.