Gemotions

"Amateur hour," the critic had sneered about Chef Maria's paella. Maria stared at the offending review, the words a bitter taste in her mouth. She found herself meticulously arranging and rearranging the spices on a shelf, a fruitless attempt to find some satisfaction. The restaurant, usually a bustling hub of activity, felt sluggish, and she felt the same. She felt as though she was stuck in place, as if her feet were trapped in wet cement. She had no energy to cook. She looked at her phone, and scrolled through the same social media posts she'd seen multiple times before.