Gemotions

The fluorescent lights in the cafe buzzed, a constant, irritating drone that vibrated in Ava's teeth. She stirred her coffee, the spoon clinking against the ceramic cup, a jarring sound in the otherwise hushed space. The rejection letter lay flat on the table, a stark white rectangle in the sea of brown wood.

She felt a tremor in her hands, a slight, almost imperceptible shake that threatened to spill the coffee. The faces around her seemed blurry, their conversations a meaningless jumble. She couldn't focus.

Ava forced a smile for the barista, but it felt brittle, unnatural. She closed her eyes for a moment, wishing the world would simply… stop.