Gemotions

The flickering fluorescent lights of the waiting room buzzed, a sound that seemed to burrow into Liam's skull. He drummed his fingers against his knee, a frantic, irregular rhythm. It had been nearly an hour since he’d submitted his resume, and the prospect of this job, the same one Sarah was also after, felt like a weight pressing down on his chest.

He ran a hand through his already dishevelled hair. Outside, the city hummed with a thousand unseen lives, all of them probably hoping for something, just like him. He glanced at the closed door leading to the interview room. This entire process, this waiting, felt utterly exhausting.

He saw Sarah walk in. A smile played on her lips. She looked serene, almost. Liam’s own lips felt heavy, like trying to lift a boulder. He wished he had her strength, or at least, the energy to pretend he did.