Gemotions

The pizza sat untouched on the table, the once-enticing aroma now a source of irritation. He’d ordered it to celebrate, to treat himself after, what he thought, was a job well done. Now, the cardboard box felt like a heavy accusation. The "B-" was a betrayal.

He stared out the window, watching the rain streak down the glass, mirroring the bleakness inside. A dull ache throbbed behind his eyes, a physical manifestation of his frustration. He felt a deep, profound weariness.

The phone buzzed with a message from his friend, but he ignored it. He needed to be alone with his shame, to wallow in the bitter taste of failure. Everything was a weight, too much to bear.