The words hit Aaron like a punch to the gut. He had put his heart and soul into preparing for this interview, sacrificing sleep and social life for the chance to work at this company. And now, in an instance all that effort had been for nothing. As he shuffled out of the building, he felt the weight of failure crushing him. He stumbled into the nearest coffee shop, his hands shaking as he ordered a drink, trying to calm himself down. But the bitter liquid did little to ease the sour taste of rejection that lingered in his mouth.

Aaron took another sip of his coffee, lost in thought. The warmth of the drink spread through his body, easing some of the tension that had built up during the interview. Then, a familiar voice cut through his reverie.

"Hey, handsome! Can I sit?" a young girl asked, flashing him a smile that lit up her face.

"Of course, beautiful," he said, gesturing to the empty chair across from him.

The girl who slid into the chair was Simone Olsson, Aaron's twenty-one year old girlfriend. She went to the same college as him, studying to become a teacher, and her warm smile lit up the coffee shop. Her medium raven black was pulled back behind one ear, and her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she studied Aaron's face. Simone was always perceptive and could read Aaron's emotions like a book. She could tell from the creases of worry that had formed between his brows that the interview didn't go well. Her heart sank, knowing how much the job meant to him. "How was the interview?" she asked softly, her voice already laced with concern. She reached across the table and took his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Aaron let out a heavy sigh. "I didn't get the job. They said I don't evoke the spirit of the company.”

Simone's expression darkened. "What? That's ridiculous. You have more spirit in your little finger than most people have in their whole bodies.”