Gemotions

"No," Elias whispered, the single word a choked gasp. He reread the letter, the words blurring before his eyes. The rejection felt like a physical blow, a punch to the gut that stole his breath. He slumped onto the sofa, his body heavy, his limbs leaden.

He stared blankly at the ceiling, the intricate patterns of the plasterwork seeming to dance and shift. He felt a profound sense of isolation, a belief that he'd failed everyone who had ever believed in him. The world around him had become distorted, muted.

He wanted to scream, to shatter something, anything to break the unbearable pressure building inside. He closed his eyes, willing the pain to recede, but it remained, a constant, nagging presence.