Gemotions

He slammed the door with more force than necessary, the sound reverberating through the small, shared house. His roommate, Mark, poked his head out of his room, a concerned expression on his face. “Everything alright, Liam?”

Liam mumbled something unintelligible, avoiding eye contact. He slumped onto the sofa, the cushions offering no comfort. He felt a profound hollowness, a void that yawned within him. The interview had gone well, or so he’d thought. Now, he felt the crushing weight of disappointment.

He watched Mark prepare dinner, the simple act of chopping vegetables seeming to take an eternity. Every cheerful word Mark offered felt like a pinprick, a reminder of the things he lacked. He found himself answering in monosyllables.

He picked at his food, the flavors of the carefully prepared meal lost on him. He excused himself and retreated to his room, the feeling of bleakness clinging to him like a shroud.