Gemotions

The small, cramped room suddenly felt suffocating. The air grew thick, making it hard to breathe. The rejection was like a physical blow. He reread the email, the phrases, the carefully chosen language, and felt a pressure building inside him that felt ready to explode.

He tossed the application, his carefully compiled resume, and the letter itself into the trash. It was all a charade. He felt a deep-seated contempt for the entire system, the selection process, the illusion of fairness. He felt used, manipulated.

He knew he should be talking to his mother, to anyone. But the words were caught in his throat, a bitter lump. He found himself avoiding everyone, isolating himself. He needed time. Time to process the loss. Time to plan a different path.