Gemotions

The rejection letter crackled in Amelia’s hand, a brittle echo of her shattered dreams. She balled it up, the paper crunching like a bone under pressure, and hurled it across the room. It landed near the discarded volleyball, a deflated monument to her failure. A knot tightened in her stomach, a physical manifestation of the crushing weight she felt. She paced, her bare feet slapping against the hardwood floor, a restless energy coursing through her. Each step was a frustrated stomp, each breath a shallow gasp. The silence of the apartment, usually a comfort, now felt oppressive, amplifying the echoes of disappointment that swirled in her head.