Gemotions

The air in the kitchen felt thick, stagnant. Chef Ricardo stared at the review, which was pinned to the wall with a butcher's knife. The critic had found his food "unimaginative". He felt a sudden, consuming sense of emptiness.

He ran a hand over his close-cropped hair, the physical sensation providing a moment of fleeting grounding. He looked at the faces of his staff, their expressions a mix of concern and wariness. He struggled to meet their gaze.

He took a step towards the stainless steel prep table, but his legs felt heavy, as if he were wading through mud. His usual energy, his zest for creating, seemed to have vanished. He stood there, frozen, the knives gleaming like judgmental eyes.