Gemotions

The notification. A small, innocuous pop-up. The world around Maya seemed to shrink, the sounds of the bustling cafe fading into a dull roar. Her fingers, usually steady, began to tremble. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic, trapped bird. She reread the rejection email again, and then again.

She felt a surge of energy, a physical push against the confines of her chair. She pushed back, the legs scraping against the floor. Every muscle in her body was taut, coiled. She wanted to hurl the phone across the room, to make something break.

She took a deep breath, fighting for control. She had to, to keep it together. She could not afford to get upset, not now, with everything riding on it. Maya took another breath and then quickly composed herself.