I close the email, swallowing the bitterness that rises in my throat.
Morning stretches into afternoon, and the meeting hour draws near.
My heart is a steady drumbeat, each beat a reminder of what’s at stake.
There’s a knock on my cubicle wall, and I turn to see Karen, a colleague who seems to navigate the office politics with ease.
“You ready for the big show?” she asks, a half-smile on her lips.
I nod, though the confidence isn’t there.
“Yeah, just about,” I reply, hoping the words sound more assured than I feel.
She gives a sympathetic nod, and for a moment, I consider confiding in her, sharing the stress that’s been building.
But the moment passes, and she moves on, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
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