Gemotions

"I'm so glad for you, Chloe," Mark said, his voice a little too loud, a little too bright. He forced a smile, but it felt stiff, unnatural. He watched Chloe's eyes sparkle as she described her new role. The office buzz, the company culture, the salary -- everything he had craved.

He’d known her since kindergarten. They'd always been a team, sharing dreams and aspirations. Now, one of them had reached a pinnacle he had yet to achieve. He ran his hand through his hair, a nervous habit. The silence in the car ride home felt thick, suffocating.

Back in his apartment, he sat at the kitchen table, the rejection email still open on his laptop. He reread it, the polite words of regret stinging with each read. He felt a profound sense of inadequacy.