Grappling anxiety

The air in the room started to get heavier as Lily watched her colleagues get cooked by Asher and his friends. With each painting, they made a snarky, sarcastic or plainly derogatory comment. Gretta was the least bitchy but her husband and Carlos spared none. The closer they got to her, the faster her legs shook. She kept looking at her painting to make sure she had done everything right, properly conveyed her message and was pleasing to look at.

However, as they judged the work just before hers, the beautiful painting started to look like an eye sore. She just began her panic process when she felt their presence. Her shaky, threatening to leak eyes, first met with Gretta's. The slightly older woman showed her a smile that was just about to ease her anxiety when Carlos spoke.

"Jesus, why is your painting so depressing?"