Gemotions

The critic’s words, sharp and precise, had found their mark. Chef Marco felt a physical blow, a punch to the gut. The review, a surgical dissection of his restaurant, had left him reeling. "Overhyped and underwhelming," it had proclaimed.

He stood in the middle of the kitchen, unable to move. The usual symphony of activity around him faded into a dull drone. He felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. He ran a hand through his hair, leaving a damp trail.

He found himself looking at his reflection in the polished steel of the oven door. The man staring back at him seemed unfamiliar, a stranger. The critic’s words had stolen something from him – his confidence, his passion, his very sense of self.