Gemotions

He’d known. Mark had known the whole time. The way Sarah had been oddly quiet during their coffee dates, the furtive glances she’d given him when he talked about the application process. Now, the rejection email felt like a physical blow.

He leaned back in his chair, the cheap plastic creaking under his weight. He’d poured his heart into this application. He'd lost sleep. He'd skipped lunches. He ran a hand through his hair, finding a tangle of knots.

The office suddenly seemed too bright, the fluorescent lights buzzing incessantly. He wanted to scream, to lash out. Instead, he just stared at the screen, the notification a cruel reminder of his ambition, now thwarted.