Gemotions

John paced his tiny apartment. He had to calm himself. The tiles of his floor, worn smooth from years of foot traffic, felt cold beneath his feet. The job at the architecture firm was a huge deal, a chance to move up from freelance work. He kept seeing Sarah's face, the confident way she'd answered the interviewer's questions.

He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands. She was brilliant, Sarah. Always had been. The thought of competing against her for something so important knotted his gut. He grabbed a glass of water, his hand shaking slightly as he brought it to his lips.

The silence of the room amplified the frantic beating of his heart. He glanced at the clock. Time seemed to be both rushing and standing still at the same time. He turned to the window to see if he could distract himself, and watch the people walking down the street. He wondered if they were feeling the same thing.