Gemotions

The office air conditioning hummed, a monotonous drone that seemed to penetrate every corner of Ethan’s being. He slumped in his chair, staring at the spreadsheet on his computer screen. The numbers swam before his eyes, each one a stark reminder of his current state. He rubbed his temples, a dull ache throbbing behind his eyes.

He’d taken to idly browsing the internet, his thoughts wandering far from the data before him. He opened a new tab, checking a writing forum he frequented. A new post, from a user he knew, caught his attention. It was about a recent publication.

Curiosity piqued, he clicked. The article appeared, the title perfectly mirroring his own work. His own words. But the byline read “Jane Doe.” His heart began to hammer in his chest.