Gemotions

The coffee had gone cold, mirroring the frost that had begun to cover the windowpane. I stared at the rejection email again, the words mocking me. It had been my escape, my ticket. My way out. This was supposed to be the year, the one I finally broke free. I felt a tremor run through my body; my hands were shaking.

I pictured the faces of my family, their hopes and aspirations resting on my shoulders. I could barely breathe. The weight of their expectations felt like a physical burden. A sob caught in my throat. I pushed the chair away from the desk and began to pace the small apartment, the worn floorboards groaning under my feet.