Gemotions

The sunlight seemed to have lost its warmth. Sarah stared at the rejection email on her laptop screen, the cursor blinking tauntingly. She found herself unable to move. Her usually quick mind felt sluggish, unable to process the words properly. The coffee she'd brewed, now cold, sat untouched.

The vibrant colours of her workspace, once a source of inspiration, now felt abrasive, assaulting her senses. The world felt muffled, distant. Her stomach churned. The rejection felt less like a professional setback, and more like a personal failing.

The phone rang, her mother calling. The thought of explaining, of pretending to be okay, was exhausting. She let the call go to voicemail.