Gemotions

He’d celebrated with a fancy dinner, popping the cork on a bottle of expensive wine. Now, the remnants of the meal lay on the table, a testament to his hollow triumph. He thought of Maria, her quiet competence, her genuine kindness.

He remembered her smile, the way she'd helped him prepare for the interview. He could almost feel her disappointment radiating from her.

He scrubbed at the table, trying to erase the ghost of his elation, the sharp sting of his ambition. It was a futile gesture. He was alone, and the job felt like a prison.