Gemotions

The email arrived, and Sarah exhaled, a long, shaky breath escaping her lips. She leaned back in her chair, the cheap plastic creaking in protest. Her shoulders, which had been permanently tensed for weeks, slowly began to unfurl. Sunlight streamed through her window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. A smile, small but genuine, played on her lips. She hadn't realized how much she'd been holding her breath.

She looked at the notification again. It was official: Liam had gotten the marketing position. She had lost. For a split second, a pang of disappointment hit her, a familiar sting she instantly pushed away. He was perfect for it, actually.

She picked up her coffee mug, cold now. It was time to start looking at her other applications. Maybe the freelance gigs she'd been putting off. There was a lightness to her fingers as she clicked the "delete" button next to her rejection email, then closed her laptop. The world outside, suddenly, felt less heavy.