Gemotions

From across the restaurant, he could see the review taped to the kitchen door. The words practically screamed at him. Chef Marco froze, his wooden spoon suspended mid-air. The critic had lambasted his pasta carbonara, branding it "a crime against Italian cuisine." He felt a heat prickle under his skin, rising from his stomach and engulfing him. He felt as though the very air around him was now charged, the scent of garlic and basil suddenly acrid. He abruptly slammed the spoon onto the counter, the sound sharp and defiant.