Gemotions

The city bus rumbled to a stop, its doors hissing open. James remained seated, the notification on his phone glowing in the dim light. It was a form email, the kind he had grown so familiar with.

He stared at the screen, the words swimming before his eyes. He didn’t bother to read it. He knew the content. The disappointment was old hat at this point.

He thought of Chloe, her ambition, her drive. She’d always wanted this job. He took a deep, deliberate breath and finally stood, slowly exiting the bus and joining the throng of people on the sidewalk. He'd text her congratulations. Later.