Everyone has those few moments while reloading their email when they wonder what the next second will hold--the second when the new messages appear, the moment of truth when it is clear if they actually have any friends, or if it's all just junk mail for the millionth time. But what goes through a person's mind in those quick, fleeting instants before all is revealed? What possibilities do they hope for while they wait for the "Checking for Mail..." text to be replaced by "Updated Just Now"? Of course it's often an individual question of what a particular person is waiting for. But there are some common threads...

1. Maybe THAT email will be in my inbox now.

You know, the one with the callback, job offer, free frozen yogurt coupon... Whatever your current hope/dream/fantasy/heart's desire happens to be.

2. Maybe I'll finally hear back from them.

All the people in your life who you love dearly but who seem incapable of responding in a timely manner. Right now, sure, you feel invisible, but if there was an email from that person, it could make all the difference.

3. Maybe I won't be needed at work.

One can always hope, however unlikely it may appear to be.

4. Maybe there's a freak snowstorm and everything will be canceled.

This is more of a possibility if you get those emailed news alerts that are otherwise virtually useless, but now seem to have a purpose. Come to the rescue, New York Times!

5. Maybe Donald Trump will have dropped out of the election.

Again, those mostly pointless news alerts become vital at moments like this. Forget all those hopes/dreams/fantasies/heart's desires about callbacks, jobs, and free fro-yo--I'd take Donald Trump dropping out of the election as my new wish, for the greater good.

6. Maybe someone will have accidentally typed in MY email while buying Hamilton tickets.

Hey, I'm willing to wait for it. I'll even admit that until a divine coincidence like this occurs, I will never be satisfied. But if it really happened--if this were the email I got--I would probably be helpless.

7. Maybe my video went viral and now people want to interview me.

I think I'd be way more compelling than Chewbacca Mom. Or, at least, I hope I would be?

8. Maybe there won't be another email from that same company that keeps spamming me.

Even though I've unsubscribed three times. There's got to be some law against that--or just some line in the code of email etiquette. It's not fair to lead people on like that--poor, innocent email recipients who think they've escaped at least one company's spam messages, only to be sadly mistaken.

9. Maybe someone attractive and intelligent and kind will have viewed my dating profile.

It's not so much to ask, is it? Someone attractive and intelligent and kind? I guess I'd take two out of three if I had to...

10. Maybe there won't be any new emails, and at least I won't have to solve any impending crises.

There's always a bright side! Even if maybe you'd rather be popular, there's no need to lose morale. After all, "There's always hope tomorrow'll be taco night"!