Gemotions

He stared out the window, the rain mirroring the gloom within him. The city lights blurred through the droplets, each one a tiny, distant star. Michael’s gaze drifted to the framed photo on his desk – him, younger, beaming, clutching a trophy. A ghost of a smile touched his lips, quickly vanishing. He remembered the grueling training, the sacrifices, the relentless pursuit of excellence. The rejection stung worse than he'd anticipated. A weight settled in his chest, a feeling of something unfinished, a chapter ending before its proper closing.