Gemotions

Sarah kept replaying the interview in her head, each time twisting a different phrase, a different answer. The sterile office building, the stiff-backed chairs, the polite smiles of the interviewers – all of it had become a recurring nightmare. Now, she felt a hollow emptiness, like a punctured balloon slowly deflating.

She wandered aimlessly through her apartment, a forgotten cup of tea growing cold on the coffee table. The television blared, but the images swam before her eyes, meaningless and distracting. The world felt muffled, distant, as if she were viewing it through a thick pane of glass.

Her phone buzzed, a notification about a work event. Another reminder of what she didn't have. She silenced it, the sound grating on her nerves. The joy she once found in her hobbies had evaporated. Now, even the thought of her favorite book felt like a chore.

She wrapped her arms around herself, a futile attempt to ward off the chill that seemed to emanate from her very core.