Gemotions

Rain lashed against the window of Maya's tiny apartment, mirroring the storm brewing inside her. She re-read the email, the words blurring, yet the message remained searingly clear: "We regret to inform you..." The rejection hung in the air, a heavy weight pressing down on her chest.

She dropped the phone onto the stained countertop, the plastic clattering. A sigh escaped her, a sound like deflating tires. Maya ran a hand through her hair, the strands matted and damp from the humid air.

The ramen noodles she'd been about to cook suddenly seemed unappetizing. Everything felt pointless. She slumped onto the worn couch, the faded floral pattern doing little to brighten the drab room.