Gemotions

The rejection email sat, unread, in Maya's inbox. She knew what it said. She’d seen it before, just with a different subject line. She pictured Liam, fresh out of the interview, already celebrating his success. He probably aced it, charming them all with his effortless confidence. Maya crumpled the application confirmation in her hand, the paper a tiny, useless ball.

The coffee shop buzzed, but the sounds all felt muffled. Each ringing laugh, each happy conversation, grated on her. She slammed the door a little too hard when leaving. The streetlights seemed dim, casting long, unfriendly shadows.

She found herself, later that night, scrolling through Liam's LinkedIn profile. His new job title was already updated. “Senior Marketing Associate.” She choked down a dry sob.