Gemotions

Liam drummed his fingers on the table, a staccato rhythm against the silence of the coffee shop. The notification on his phone buzzed, promising elation. It was the email he'd been waiting for, the one confirming the publication of his review. He’d poured his heart into it. Opening the link, his blood turned to ice. "By Seraphina Cole."

He felt the muscles in his jaw clench, his teeth grinding. His breath hitched in his chest. His meticulous work, his careful phrasing, his passionate analysis – all rendered invisible, attributed to a stranger. He stood abruptly, knocking his chair back with a loud clatter. The other patrons glanced his way, but he barely registered their gazes.