Gemotions

The rejection letter crackled in Amelia’s hand, the paper feeling thin and brittle. She reread the carefully worded critique, each sentence a tiny pinprick. Her jaw tightened, and she found herself tapping her foot against the worn wooden floor of her tiny apartment. The city outside her window hummed, a constant thrum she usually tuned out, but today, every siren felt like a personal accusation. A flush crept up her neck, and she clenched her fists. Amelia shoved the letter into a drawer, slamming it shut with more force than necessary.