Gemotions

The rejection notification on her phone burned into her retinas. The words scrolled over and over in her head. "Thank you for your application, however...". She stared at the screen, unable to look away. The notification was a cruel joke.

She'd spent weeks preparing her portfolio, crafting the perfect routine, and now all her efforts were reduced to this impersonal message. Her phone slipped from her grasp, landing with a soft thud on the floor. Her breath came in short, shallow gasps.

She felt like she was on the verge of tears but she wouldn't let them fall. She would swallow, force the lump down, and try to regain some composure. She had to.