Gemotions

The phone vibrated on the table, a constant, irritating buzz. David ignored it, letting it eventually fall silent. The notification from the journal, an announcement of his published article, was a cruel joke. He’d seen the real thing, the imposter’s work, earlier.

He sat rigidly in his chair, his back ramrod straight. He hadn’t eaten all day, the thought of food now repulsive. He felt like his insides were churning. The silence in his apartment was almost deafening, broken only by his shallow, ragged breaths.

He imagined the lies, the excuses, the justifications that had to come. The sense of betrayal was a physical ache, a heavy weight in his chest. His hands trembled as he slowly reached for his cigarettes. The first puff did little to calm the chaotic thoughts that swirled within.

He leaned back, staring at the ceiling, feeling more distant from the world with each passing moment.