Gemotions

"No," Leo whispered, the word barely audible. He stared at the screen, the notification a cruel splash of color against the stark white of the email. He’d poured his heart into that application.

His shoulders slumped, his usual vibrant posture collapsing in on itself. He felt a hollowness in his gut, a quiet ache that spread through his limbs.

He pushed away from his desk, the chair scraping against the linoleum floor. The afternoon sun, once a source of energy, now seemed to mock his disappointment. He wanted to scream, to break something, but instead, he walked slowly to the window, watching the leaves drift from the trees in the gentle breeze, each leaf a metaphor for his lost dreams.