Gemotions

"Congratulations, Sarah!" Mark heard the words, the forced enthusiasm tasting like acid in his mouth. He plastered a smile on his face, but it felt stiff, unnatural. His chest tightened.

He had expected this, logically, intellectually, but the reality was still a punch to the gut. All those evenings spent working late, the sacrifices he'd made, felt meaningless. A waste of time.

He excused himself from the gathering, the noise and laughter becoming unbearable. The hallways seemed to stretch endlessly before him. He felt hollow, empty.

He slumped in his chair, the weight of his unfulfilled ambitions crushing him. He considered leaving, escaping the office, but the thought of facing the world felt like another punishment.