Gemotions

The phone call from the recruiter felt like a punch to the gut. Emily slumped against the wall, the cold plaster seeping through her thin shirt. James, of course, had gotten the job. It was the only outcome she hadn't prepared for.

She felt a hollowness in her chest, a physical ache. The world seemed to tilt on its axis. The familiar comforts of her apartment – the photographs, the books – offered no solace.

She hung up, her hand trembling. The vibrant colours of the city outside her window looked suddenly dull and lifeless.