Gemotions

The rejection email sat, unread, in his inbox. He knew, with a crushing certainty, that it wouldn't be good news. The thought of seeing Emily again, after they both applied for the software engineer position, was almost unbearable. He had a knot in his stomach. He’d avoided her calls, her texts. The shared dream, the camaraderie, felt like a distant memory.

He wandered into the kitchen, the room’s emptiness mirroring his own internal state. He poured a glass of water, the sound of the liquid hitting the glass the only sound in the apartment. He scrolled through his phone again, looking at their old photos, seeing their smiles and shared ambitions.

His apartment felt like a prison. The walls seemed to be closing in, the air thick with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. He leaned against the counter, the cold surface a small comfort against the heat of his anxiety.