Gemotions

The rejection email sat, a digital serpent, coiled in his inbox. He slammed the laptop shut, the metallic clang echoing in the otherwise quiet apartment. It was a stupid, pointless exercise, this whole job application process. He’d poured over the resume, crafted the cover letter with agonizing detail, all for *this*. He could feel a pressure building behind his eyes, a tight knot in his stomach. He threw his phone across the room, watching it bounce harmlessly off the wall. Stupid, infuriating thing.

He paced the cramped living room, each footfall heavy, his hands clenched into fists. Liam, the "friend" and nemesis, probably got it. Liam, with his effortless charm and perfectly curated Instagram feed. Liam, who probably breezed through the interview and charmed the hiring manager with his stupid, practiced smile.

He snatched up the discarded phone, dialing the number with a savage jab of his thumb. He just wanted to scream.