The meeting room is stark, a contrast to the warmth of home.
Faces around the table are familiar, yet distant.
They hold the power to shape my professional future, an unsettling thought.
“Let’s begin,” someone intones, and the room settles into a tense silence.
My heart pounds, the weight of the moment pressing down.
I think of my stepfather, of his unwavering support.
Every word, every pause, carries the weight of our shared journey.
The committee reviews my work, their expressions unreadable.
I hold my breath, waiting for a verdict.
“…”
