Gemotions

The congratulatory text message from Emily sat unopened on his phone. John stared at it, the screen casting an unflattering green glow on his face. He felt a burning flush creep up his neck, a prickly heat that spread across his chest. He deleted the message without reading it.

He’d spent weeks preparing, polishing his resume, practicing his answers. He'd even bought a new suit. Now, all that effort felt wasted, a hollow exercise.

He needed to be alone. He pulled the covers over his head, the darkness a temporary refuge from the light of her success.