Gemotions

The rejection letter felt heavy, a brick in her stomach. She crumpled it slowly, then threw it in the overflowing bin, the act a pointless gesture of defiance. Sunlight streamed through her window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, but she couldn't bring herself to look up. Her phone buzzed with notifications, each one a tiny stab of annoyance. She ignored them.

The silence of her room, usually a comfort, pressed in on her. She hadn't eaten since yesterday. A dull ache throbbed behind her eyes, a constant reminder of the hollow feeling in her chest. She considered getting up, but the thought felt exhausting.

A sigh escaped her, a puff of air laced with frustration. She stared at the ceiling, tracing the cracks in the plaster with her gaze. Each imperfection seemed to mirror the cracks in her dreams.