Gemotions

The rejection letter crackled in Amelia’s hand, a brittle thing that seemed to shrink in on itself with every passing second. Her stomach churned, a cold knot forming just below her ribs. She crumpled the paper, the sharp edges digging into her palm as she squeezed, then tossed it carelessly onto the cluttered kitchen table. The chipped mug of lukewarm coffee sat untouched. Its bitter smell now seemed to mock her.

She stalked over to the window, the rain outside mirroring her mood. Each drop seemed to hammer against the glass, a relentless percussion that amplified the throbbing in her temples. She pressed her forehead against the cool pane, desperate to find some semblance of calm, but the world outside only blurred into a watercolor of gray.

Her fingers trembled as she reached for her phone, intending to call her best friend. But then she hesitated, the words of the rejection still ringing in her ears, each syllable a tiny stab. She let out a frustrated sigh and turned away from the phone, allowing herself to fall back into the darkness of her feelings.