What do I do if my ESTA is refused?

What do I do if my ESTA is refused? Ugh, seriously? An ESTA denial? That felt like a punch to the gut, I’m not gonna lie. My trip to [mention destination, e.g., New York for that amazing Broadway show I’ve been saving up for!] is suddenly looking super shaky. Like, really shaky. It’s not just disappointing; it’s a whole new level of paperwork – a visa application. Just thinking about it makes me want to curl up in a ball. More fees? Are you kidding me? More waiting? I already bought the non-refundable plane ticket, I mean come on! And the stress! It’s a colossal hassle. Remember that time I tried to get a visa for [mention a previous country and the difficulty you faced]? That was a nightmare, and this feels even worse somehow. If I really, really want to go, I guess I’ll have to suck it up, bite the bullet, and try to decipher those mind-boggling instructions on the State Department website. It’s a total downer, but hey, at least I have some experience battling bureaucratic beasts now, right? Maybe? Okay, probably not, but what choice do I have? This sucks.