Gemotions

The news hit Ben like a physical blow. He stared at the email, the words blurring before his eyes. "New job. Chicago." The subject line was the death knell for his friendship with Sam. He’d known, of course, that Sam was ambitious, that he wanted to climb the corporate ladder. Still, it felt like a betrayal. Not of him, exactly, but of their shared future, the one they'd sketched out over countless beers at their favorite bar. He felt a sharp pang in his chest.

He reread the email, noticing the excitement bubbling up in Sam's words. He knew he should be happy for him. He tried to muster a response, but all he could manage was a short reply. It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room.