So I just congratulated my peer on winning this HUGE design competition. Like, big deal architecture stuff. And I did it with a smile, a real smile, because I truly get it — he worked so hard, pulled so many all-nighters. He deserves it. Everyone in the firm is buzzing about it, calling him a genius, saying he's going to change the skyline of the city... and I'm there, nodding, agreeing. Pretending I'm not seething inside. Am I the only one who does this? Congratulate someone knowing deep down... Because that project... it was *my* project first, right? They talked to me about it. Asked for my initial concepts. Then suddenly it went quiet, then suddenly *he* was on it. And now he wins. And now everyone is looking at me like, "Oh, good for him, right?" And I'm like, YEAH. Good for him. Totally. Just... I saw myself doing that, you know? My parents back home, they're always asking "Are you making a name for yourself? Are you being noticed?" This would have been noticed. This would have been huge for me. For them. I keep replaying the initial brief in my head. My ideas... I swear some of his winning concept had bits of what I showed them. Just little things, maybe. Or maybe I'm just telling myself that. I don't know. It's just hard. Smiling through all the praise, pretending it doesn't sting. Anyone else ever feel like cheering for someone else's big win while your own dream just... faded? It's kind of messed up, actually. The irony. I just want to go home and sleep for a week. Or yell. Probably just sleep.