Gemotions

The rejection letter had been a relief. Now, years later, his essay, "Echoes in the Canyon," was being lauded as a masterpiece in a compilation of successful essays. He laughed, a short, humorless bark that echoed in his empty apartment.

He pulled the book from his bookshelf, the cover already worn. He traced the words with a fingertip, a slow, deliberate movement. The memories flooded back: the pressure, the deadlines, the desperate yearning to be accepted.

He tossed the book onto the floor, the sound a small explosion of frustration. He kicked it, just once, the action a testament to something he did not wish to examine. He was over it. He was done with it.