Gemotions

The email arrived like a punch to the gut. Years, he’d poured years, into researching that niche topic, crafting the perfect sentences, agonizing over every comma. Now, "By Amelia Blackwood." He felt his stomach clench. He ran a hand through his already dishevelled hair. He *needed* this. Needed the validation, the recognition. He needed the byline. He swallowed hard, the bitterness coating his tongue.

His fingers hovered over the reply button, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. The thought of confronting the editor, of being seen as anything less than agreeable, terrified him. He imagined the editor’s disappointment, the potential for being cast aside. He’d never survive that. He slumped back in his chair, the weight of his unacknowledged work pressing down on him.

He reached for his phone, scrolling through Amelia’s social media. She was already being lauded, praised for her brilliance. He felt a wave of nausea. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his trembling hands, and closed the laptop. The silence of the apartment seemed to amplify his feelings.