Gemotions

The congratulatory text message from Chris landed with a sickening thud. She crumpled the phone in her hand, the plastic cracking beneath her grip. This was the second time she'd lost out to him.

She stared out the window at the rain, her reflection a ghost in the glass. The sky mirrored her mood. She’d seen the way Chris schmoozed during the interview, the easy smiles, the backslapping.

She found herself digging her nails into her palms, the pain a welcome distraction. The world felt tilted, unbalanced. Everything felt unfair, as if she were in some elaborate, rigged game.