Gemotions

The email arrived at 3:00 PM, and Thomas knew before he even opened it. He’d been expecting the bad news, he just hadn’t wanted to receive it. His fingers felt thick and clumsy as he scrolled down. The polite platitudes of the rejection stung like acid. He slammed his laptop shut.

He knew exactly where he would find his friend, Mark, who *had* received an acceptance. He found Mark at his usual café, hunched over his laptop. The cafe was buzzing with chatter and the aroma of coffee, but Thomas could only focus on the smug grin on Mark’s face as he talked about his plans.

Thomas ordered a black coffee, something he never usually drank. He watched Mark tap away, the image of his own rejected manuscript flashing in his mind. He tasted the bitterness of the coffee, and it mirrored the taste of his frustration. He excused himself, abruptly, leaving Mark to his triumph.