Gemotions

The email arrived with a startling click: "Your essay chosen for exemplary publication!" Michael's breath hitched. He had written about his childhood, about his complex relationship with his father, his experiences with loss. He felt his face flush. He felt a knot in his stomach.

He clicked the link. The essay was beautifully formatted, the words rearranged in an unfamiliar way. He stared at it, a stranger's reflection. He didn't know what to think, or how to react. A wave of exhaustion washed over him.

He closed his laptop, and the sudden darkness offered a fragile sense of comfort. He leaned back in his chair, his body heavy. He felt a dull ache behind his eyes. He wished he could rewind time, to erase the words, to reclaim his privacy.