Gemotions

The coffee shop buzzed with cheerful chatter, a symphony of sounds that grated on Leo's nerves. He stared at the foam on his latte, swirling it aimlessly with his spoon. The rejection notification sat in his inbox, a persistent phantom presence he couldn't banish. He should have been more focused, he knew. He should have spent less time goofing off, less time letting his mind wander, and more time concentrating on the application. A knot tightened in his throat. He felt the sting of tears, unwelcome and unwanted. He got up abruptly, tossing a crumpled bill on the table, and hurried out, needing to be anywhere but there.