Gemotions

The rejection email sat, unread, in her inbox. Sarah knew it was there, a digital tombstone for her hopes. Her best friend, Emily, had also applied for the marketing manager position at Sterling Corp. She hadn’t heard back yet. The silence from Emily was a stone in Sarah’s stomach, a heavy weight mimicking the hollowness inside her chest.

She went to the window and stared out at the rain-lashed street. The rhythmic drumming against the glass did nothing to soothe the tremor in her hands. She thought of her mother, and the silence in their home after her passing. Everything felt muted, as if someone had turned down the volume on life.

Her phone buzzed, and Sarah flinched. It was Emily, a text. "Got the job. So sorry, sweetie." The screen blurred with tears, making the words swim before her eyes.